Insight on OncologyDocumentation
Guide / Data

Understand Codebooks

Use codebooks to understand variable definitions, coding rules, and possible values. Confirm how variables are represented before including them in your research.

Overview screenshot
A codebook document alongside the column it describes.
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Step 1. Open the codebook

From a dataset or a variable, open the codebook that documents it.

Step 2. Read the value labels

Focused screenshot
Value labels for a coded variable, showing 1 = Yes and 0 = No.
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Check what each coded value means — for example 1 = Yes and 0 = No.

Step 3. Check how missing values are coded

Confirm how missing or not-applicable values are represented before using the variable in analysis.

Expected result

You can interpret coded values correctly and handle missing data deliberately.

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