Do imputed education histories provide satisfactory results in fertility analysis in the Western German context?

Demographic Research: Volume 21, Article 6

Research Article

Do imputed education histories provide satisfactory results in
fertility analysis in the western German context?

Cordula Zabel ¹

Abstract

In many surveys, information on respondents’ education histories is restricted to the
level and sometimes the date they attained their highest degree. We compare estimates
of education effects on first birth transitions using imputed histories based on this
rudimentary information with estimates drawing on complete histories, using the
German Life History Study. We find that imputed histories produce relatively reliable
estimates for most but not all education categories, especially when information on the
date the highest degree was attained is available. We investigate possible explanations
for these findings and indicate contexts in which biases may be stronger.

¹ Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Regensburger Straβe 104, D- 90478 Nuremberg, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (0)911-179-5956. Fax: +49 (0)911-179-5912. E-mail: [email protected].

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