Variable Details

Available Studies

MAP, MARS, LATC

Scaled? 

Not Scaled

Variable Type 

Cross-Sectional

Variable Name 

cog_res_age40

Categories

SES and Cognitive Resources, Demographics

Cognitive resources - Age 40
Access to materials that support cognitive activity - Age 40

This variable is only available in MAP, MARS, and LATC.

Cognitive resources at age 40 measures the presence of materials that support cognitive activity (e.g., encyclopedia, library card, magazine subscriptions) in the home at the age of 40. The variable is measured using an 8-item scale issued at baseline.

Participants are asked to indicate whether they had each of seven items available (questions 1-7) and to estimate the number of books in the home (question 8). Responses for question 8 are adjusted to range from 0 to 1. The overall score of cognitive resources at age 40 ranges from 0 to 8 and represents the sum of the 8 questions. Higher scores indicate greater access to materials.

Participants are asked the following questions:

  1. Did you or a member of your family subscribe to a daily newspaper when you were 40?
  2. Did you or a member of your family subscribe to any magazines when you were 40?
  3. Did your home have a dictionary when you were 40?
  4. Did your home have an encyclopedia when you were 40?
  5. Did your home have a world atlas when you were 40?
  6. Did your home have a globe when you were 40?
  7. Did you or a member of your family have a library card when you were 40?
  8. About how many books do you think were in your family home when you were 40?

Response choices for questions1-7:

ResponseResponse value
Yes1
No0

Response choices for questions 8:

ResponseResponse valueAdjusted value
Less than 2010.0
20 - 4920.25
50 - 10030.50
101 - 25040.75
More than 25051.0

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