Selecting the correct weight

The Innovation Panel dataset is designed to be used with weights (see why you should use weights).

A number of different weights are provided to meet the different needs of users. The weight for your analysis reflects the survey instrument which is the source of the data, the analysis level (e.g. household or individual questionnaire) and the the combination of waves involved.

All weights follow a naming convention, designed to help users to pick the correct weight. The name of each weight reflects the wave for which the weight is calculated, level of analysis, data source and its nature (design weight, cross-sectional analysis weight or longitudinal analysis weight). The rules are described in the Naming Conventions for Weighting Variables page.

If your analysis uses only data from one wave, select the _xw (cross-sectional) version of the weight. This weight is defined for all sample members[1] who responded to the relevant survey instrument at that wave. If your analysis uses data from two or more waves, select the _lw (longitudinal) version of the weight for the most recent wave included in your analysis. This weight is defined for sample members who responded to the relevant survey instrument at each wave.

For individual level analysis you may want to combine information from different questionnaire sources. In this situation please select the weight suitable for the lowest level according to the hierarchy below:

Level of Analysis	Questions available for
4	Household level (all enumerated individuals)
3	Proxy and main adult interview
2	Main adult interview only (no proxy)
1	Self-completion interview, adult or youth

List of available weights for the Innovation Panel

Analysis level	Wave(s)	Data source	Analysis Weight
HH	n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_hhdenip_xw
IND	n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psnenip_xw
IND	1 through n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psnenip_lw
IND	4 through n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psneni1_lw
IND	7 through n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psneni2_lw
IND	10 through n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psneni3_lw
IND	11 through n	HH grid and/or HH interview	n_psneni4_lw
IND	1 & 3	HH grid and/or HH interview	c_psnenip5_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4	HH grid and/or HH interview	d_psnenip13_lw
IND	n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxip_xw
IND	1 through n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxip_lw
IND	4 through n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxi1_lw
IND	7 through n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxi2_lw
IND	10 through n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxi3_lw
IND	11 through n	Adult main and proxy interview	n_indpxi4_lw
IND	1 & 3	Adult main and proxy interview	c_indpxip5_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4	Adult main and proxy interview	d_indpxip13_lw
IND	n	Adult main interview	n_indinip_xw
IND	1 through n	Adult main interview	n_indinip_lw
IND	4 through n	Adult main interview	n_indini1_lw
IND	7 through n	Adult main interview	n_indini2_lw
IND	10 through n	Adult main interview	n_indini3_lw
IND	11 through n	Adult main interview	n_indini4_lw
IND	1 & 3	Adult main interview	c_indinip5_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4	Adult main interview	d_indinip13_lw
IND	n	Adult self-completion	n_indscip_xw
IND	4 through 7	Adult self-completion	n_indsci1_lw
IND	1 & 3	Adult self-completion	c_indscip5_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4	Adult self-completion	d_indscip13_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4 & 5	Adult self-completion	e_indscip29_lw
IND	1 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6	Adult self-completion	f_indscip61_lw
IND	1 & 3 to 7	Adult self-completion	g_indscip125_lw
IND	1	Youth self-completion	a_ythscip_xw
IND	1 & 2	Youth self-completion	b_ythscip_lw
IND	n (w3 onwards)	Youth self-completion	n_ythscip_xw
IND		(Design weight)	a_psnenip_xd

HH = household; IND = individual

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[1] With just a few exceptions, which are documented below in the “Technical Details” section