Preschool attendance variable description

FDZ SOEP
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1

Dataversion

2024

Data Set

SOEP Core

Please describe your problem

Dear SOEP Team,
I am working with the kidlong dataset for a seminar paper and am using the following variables to track preschool attendance:

  • k_ca_v5 (survey years 2000–2008)
  • k_ca_v6 (survey years 2009–2016)
  • kc_car_v1 (survey years 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021)
  • kc_car_v2 (survey years 2017–2018)

My question: Do these variables indicate whether a child is currently attending kindergarten in the respective survey year, or whether they have attended kindergarten at some point in the interval?

The reason I ask is that I see the value 1 in many observations even though the children are already of school age (e.g., 16 or 17 years old), which makes me doubt the interpretation that this indicates current attendance.

I would be very grateful for a brief clarification.

2
  1. yes, these variables indicate wether a child is currently attending kindergarten or after-school care
    1. Unlike the variables kc_car_v1 and kc_car_v2, the variables k_ca_v5 and k_ca_v6 also include children who attend after-school care—in addition to children who attend preschool. As a result, the age distribution is different.