As part of the annual translation process of the PASS survey instruments (see Methodological Report Wave 17 Chapter 4.6), inaccuracies and translation errors were identified in individual questions in the Arabic, Russian, and Ukrainian survey instruments prior to the start of wave 19. These issues affect the data quality of PASS.
The following actions were taken:
- Correction of affected variables (see overview 1)
For wave 17 (and possibly other previous waves and wave 18), individual variables were corrected where the content in the foreign language versions differed significantly from the original German question. In these cases, the special code -4 ‘Question mistakenly not asked’ was assigned. - Indications of differences between the German and Ukrainian language versions (see overview 2)
No data correction was made for minor deviations in the translation. However, limited comparability is pointed out and the differences in the language variants are explained. These cases relate exclusively to individual questions in the Ukrainian translation (wave 17 and wave 18). In such cases, a note can be found within the dataset in the variable description (stata notes). It is up to the data users to decide whether to correct these variables.
Due to the corrections, an updated version of the PASS-Scientific-Use File wave 17 (PASS_0623_v2) is now available.
In order to download the current version from https://datenaustausch-fdz.iab.de/PASS_Welle_1_17_V2, data users with a valid data usage agreement for PASS wave 1-17 need a new access authorisation for the exchange server. Please just send an informal e-mail with the corresponding project number to the FDZ mailbox iab.fdz@iab.de.
Furthermore, a deletion notice for the previous version PASS_0623_v1 is required for the use of v2. This can be sent to us informally by e-mail by the person responsible for data protection or the head of the scientific institution.
Data users of older PASS versions are asked to send a supplementary application. You will then receive a supplementary agreement for PASS waves 1–17 and a new access authorisation for the data exchange server.
We request all users to use this corrected version going further and to refer to notes on the differences between the German and Ukrainian language versions when analysing the data.
Overview 1: Variables with significant differences between the German and the translated version - data correction (special code -4 ‘Question not asked by mistake’)
Module | Variable | Wave | Language version |
|---|---|---|---|
Deprivation | HLS0200a-b | Wave 17 Wave 18 | Ukrainian |
Attitudes (Self Efficacy) | PEO0100 | Wave 17 Wave 18 | Russian |
Employment biography (Spells) | ET3706/netto/nettokat/netges ET3707/netto/nettokat/netges ET3708/netto/nettokat/netges ET3709/netto/nettokat/netges ET3710/netto/nettokat/netges ET3711/netto/nettokat/netges ET3712/netto/nettokat/netges ET3713/netto/nettokat/netges | Wave 11 Wave 12 Wave 13 Wave 14 Wave 15 Wave 16 Wave 17 Wave 18 | Arabic |
Agency contacts | PTK1700m | Wave 17 Wave 18 | Russian |
Migration | PMI1800 | Wave 18 | Ukrainian |
Agency contacts | PTK2500a | Wave 9 Wave 10 Wave 11 Wave 12 Wave 13 Wave 14 Wave 15 Wave 16 Wave 17 Wave 18 | Russian |
Agency contacts | PTK2500a | Wave 17 Wave 18 | Ukrainian |
Health | PG0950h, PG0951h | Wave 17 Wave 18 | Ukrainian |
Overview 2: Variables with limited comparability between the German and Ukrainian versions (waves 17 and 18) - individual decision by the user necessary
Modul | Variable(s) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Deprivation | HLS1400a-b HLS1500a-b HLS1600a-b HLS1700a-b HLS1800a-b HLS1900a-b HLS2000a-b HLS2100a-b HLS2200a-b HLS2300a-b HLS2400a-b HLS2500a-b | The initial question for the matrix HLS battery (HLS1400-HLS2600) is: ‘And which of the following things do you or your household do?’ - However, the Ukrainian translation may lead to varying interpretations in the context of the various items. It literally asks: ‘What do you or your household do with it?’ This means that although the introductory wording of the question was awkward, the meaning of the individual items was not considered to be significantly impaired, so that the information collected remains available. Concerns Ukrainian translation in wave 17 and wave 18. From wave 19 onwards, the translation was adapted in the context of the items. |
Mini job | PET0510 | Question PET0510 is about whether you have a part-time job in addition to your main job. (‘In addition to your main job, are you currently working in so-called marginal employment, (...)’). In the Ukrainian translation, however, this can be understood as a continuation of such an activity. (‘Do you continue to work in addition to your main occupation (...)’). The German phrasing is also ambiguous at this point, as ‘weiterhin’ can be understood here both as a conjunction (in the sense of additionally) and as a temporal-causal adverb. The collected information is retained. Concerns Ukrainian translation in wave 17 and wave 18. From wave 19 onwards, a formulation in Ukrainian was chosen for the translation that avoids this ambiguity. |
Job search | PAS0930a | Question PAS0930 is an incorrect item in a question matrix. The original question is: ‘How often have friends or relatives done one of the following things in the last four weeks?’ - Item A: ‘Told you about a potential employer?’ - The Ukrainian translation differs slightly: ‘Were you referred to this employer?’ The information collected remains unchanged. Concerns Ukrainian translation in wave 17 and wave 18. The translation was corrected from wave 19 onwards. |
Networks | PSK0100 | Question PSK0100 (‘Do you have any real close friends or family members outside your household with whom you have a close relationship?’) can be misunderstood in German with an emphasis on the word ‘wirklich’. Due to the incorrect emphasis, ‘any real’ may be understood as intended in the sense of ‘very’, but rather as an intensification of the interrogative word. In the Ukrainian translation, the word order was chosen to emphasise the interrogative. Concerns Ukrainian translation in wave 17 and wave 18. From wave 19 onwards, a meaningful translation was chosen that corresponds to the intention of the very close friends. |