# What is the difference between person and replicate weights in ACS?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-person-and-replicate-weights-in-acs/944>\
**Category:** USA\
**Created:** [July 3, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-person-and-replicate-weights-in-acs/944 "2015-07-03T19:30:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BETH\_FUSSELL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@BETH\_FUSSELL](https://forum.ipums.org/u/BETH_FUSSELL)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-person-and-replicate-weights-in-acs/944/1 "2015-07-03T19:30:00Z")

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I am comparing demographic characteristics for a county across multiple years of the ACS. I want to make sure that my standard errors are correct so I can perform tests of statistical significance, but I am not sure whether I should use person weights or replicate weights. What would the command be to apply person weights in Stata? I’m not sure what the cluster should be, a household?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![BETH\_FUSSELL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@BETH\_FUSSELL](https://forum.ipums.org/u/BETH_FUSSELL)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-person-and-replicate-weights-in-acs/944/2 "2015-07-07T18:15:00Z")

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Please disregard this question. I’ve figured it out. However, I would be interested in seeing model code for applying sample weights in Stata. Currently, I am using the following code. I have recoded the variable educd into a set of indicators.

svyset serial [pweight = perwt]

svy linearized : mean ed\_lths ed\_hs ed\_AA ed\_BA, over(year)

The problem is that when I use a recoded dummy variable that uses only one value of the original variable, e.g. ed\_BA where ed\_BA includes only educd==101, the command does not generate results. I think this has to do with the person weights because I can get a result when they are not being used.

I don’t understand why the weights cause this to occur. I wonder whether the procedure I am following is incorrect. I am calculating these statistics for a single county.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Tim\_Moreland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f1d935/32.png) [@Tim\_Moreland](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Tim_Moreland)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-person-and-replicate-weights-in-acs/944/3 "2015-07-07T18:51:00Z")

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While person weights will produce correct point estimates (e.g., means, proportions), you can use additional statistical techniques that account for the complex sample design to produce more accurate standard errors and statistical tests. Using replicate weights generates the most accurate standard error calculations. You can find more information about replicate weights [here](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-are-replicate-weights/91/1), along with a link to sample STATA code. While not as accurate as replicate weights, we also make available [STRATA](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/STRATA#description_section) and [CLUSTER](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/CLUSTER#description_section) variables for purposes of calculating standard errors. You can find more information about using these variables [here](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/complex_survey_vars/userNotes_variance.shtml), including sample STATA code. This STATA code may help resolve your follow-up question.

Hope this helps.