topic Re: Summing Variables in an Array in SAS Procedures

Summing Variables in an Array

daszlosek — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 16:59:33 GMT

Hello everyone,

I have an array with eight dichotomous (yes,no) variables and I want to sum the variables such that I get a range of scores 0-8 (0 being none of them have any 'yes's' and 8 being all of the variables are yes. Then for any of the scores lower than 4 I would like to make missing. I am getting the SUM of all the variables as a dichotomous and not an 8 level score. Is there a better way to code this?

ARRAY ACE_ARRAY[8] ACEPRISN2 ACEDIVRC2 ACEDEPRS2 ACESXAB ACESUBS ACEPUNCH2 ACESWEAR2 ACEHURT2;

SUM_ACESCORE = sum(of ACE_ARRAY[8]);

IF SUM_ACESCORE <= 4 then SUM_ACE = ' ';

Thank you,

Donald S.

Re: Summing Variables in an Array

PhilC — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:20:26 GMT

I don't think the expression "of ACE_ARRAY[8]" is going to work for you like your are thinking it will. NOW if the variables are always going to be adjacent in the dataset-- i.e. they have consecutive variable numbers (see proc contents) -- then you could use the syntax "of ACEPRISN2 -- ACEHURT2" (that's a double dash) and that would be the appropriate use of the "of" operator.

If you use the array then you want to use a do loop:

SUM_ACESCORE = 0; 
do i=1 to 8; drop i;
  SUM_ACESCORE+ACE_ARRAY;
end;

Re: Summing Variables in an Array

daszlosek — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:31:01 GMT

Thank you PhilC, I believe this code works the way I want it to. From the proc freq, It seems odd to me that the Score starts at 8 and goes to 16. See below

The FREQ Procedure

8	302	0.29	302	0.29
9	1071	1.04	1373	1.33
10	2135	2.07	3508	3.40
11	3447	3.34	6955	6.74
12	5300	5.14	12255	11.87
13	7819	7.58	20074	19.45
14	12048	11.67	32122	31.13
15	21507	20.84	53629	51.96
16	49574	48.04	103203	100.00

Can I assume that the level "8" is 8/8 yes's, level "7" is 7/8 "yes's" etc. and that level "16" is "no yes's"?

Thank you!

Re: Summing Variables in an Array

PhilC — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:36:21 GMT

The variables could be dichotomous, but have the values 1 and 2? It's not clear to me. We need a ~10 row sample of the data, a proc contents, and the code you used to add up the variables.

Re: Summing Variables in an Array

daszlosek — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:44:09 GMT

I am going to be doing my regression analysis in SUDAAN since it handles complex survey data faster and requires to be coded 1/2 instead of 0/1- yes, it is a pain. This is un-redacted data so I don't think I am allowed to share this information- will have to ask my boss. BUT I did just do some 2X2 tables to see if everything matches up and it appears to for the rows I have looked at so far.

Re: Summing Variables in an Array

PhilC — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:13:31 GMT

No pain is involved, if you see the data as 1's and 2's then its not odd, at all, that the range is 8 to 16. Thanks for flagging my responses as helpful.