Data Support Documentation
Researchers are strongly encouraged to review all of the following documentation prior to preparing an application for data and/or sample access.
Data Collection Tools:
Data Dictionaries:
Data dictionaries are documents that provide information about each variable in a dataset. Below, you will find data dictionaries corresponding to Baseline Questionnaires, Follow-up 1 Questionnaires and Participant Status data for the most up-to-date version of the CLSA datasets. Please note that each file contains variables for both Tracking and Comprehensive cohorts, as indicated. There are 2 tabs within each workbook that provide information on the variables in the dataset. The workbooks are locked - they may be searched, but cannot be sorted or edited.
- Baseline - including Tracking and Comprehensive Cohort Variables
- FUP1 - including Tracking and Comprehensive Cohort Variables
- Status - including Tracking and Comprehensive Cohort Variables
Sampling Weights Documents:
- 2024 CLSA Sampling and Computation of Response Rates and Sample Weights for the Tracking (Telephone Interview) Participants and Comprehensive Participants (Version 3.0)
- 2023 CLSA Sampling and Computation of Response Rates and Sample Weights for the Tracking (Telephone Interview) Participants and Comprehensive Participants (Version 2.0)
- 2020 Baseline Sampling and Computation of Response Rates and Sample Weights for the Tracking (Telephone Interview) Participants and Comprehensive Participants (Version 1.2)
- 2017 Baseline Sampling and Computation of Response Rates and Sample Weights for the Tracking (Telephone Interview) Participants and Comprehensive Participants (Version 1.1)
Baseline Derived Variables Documents:
- Derived Variables - Alcohol Use (ALC)
- Derived Variables - Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) & Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IAL)
- Derived Variables - Care Giving (CAG)
- Derived Variables - Care Receiving 1/Formal Care (CR1) & Care Receiving 2/Informal Care (CR2)
- Derived Variable - Chronic Conditions (CCT/CCC)
- Derived Variables - Depression (DEP)
- Derived Variable - Education (ED)
- Recoded Variables - General Health (GEN)
- Derived Variable - Life Space Index (LSI)
- Derived Variables - Cognition (COG) Normative Data (Comprehensive Assessment)
- Derived Variables - Cognition (COG) Normative Data (Tracking Assessment)
- Derived Variables - Nutritional Risk (NUR)
- Derived Variables - Personality Traits (PER)
- Derived Variables - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSD)
- Derived Variables - Psychological Distress (K10)
- Derived Variable - Retirement Planning (RPL)
- Derived Variables - Satisfaction with Life (SLS)
- Derived Variables - Social Support Availability (SSA)
- Derived Variables - Social Participation (SPA)
Follow-up 1 Derived Variables Documents:
- Derived Variables – Cognition (COG) – Reliable Change Scores (Tracking Assessment)
- Derived Variables – Cognition (COG) – Reliable Change Scores (Comprehensive Assessment)
Other Data Support Materials:
- Air Pollution & Meteorological Exposure Data Document
- Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT) Data Support Document
- Changes in data collection procedures amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic (Comprehensive Cohort – Follow-up 2)
- Cognition Dataset Overview for Tracking and Comprehensive Participants
- DXA Image Characteristics
- Whole Body DEXA Reanalysis (Baseline)
- Epigenetics Data Support Document
- Forward Sortation Areas (FSAS) and Census Subdivisions (CSD)
- Genome-wide Genetic Data Document
- Medication Data Support Document
- Metabolomics Data Support Document
- Nutrition: Short Diet Questionnaire (NUT) Module
- SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies
- Transportation, Mobility, Migration (TRA) Module
- Urban/Rural Classification