Controlled Vocabularies - Overview Table of Latest Versions

The vocabularies are published in an XML format called Genericode, an OASIS specification. The Genericode format provides a tabular model for code lists. They are also made available in HTML and XLS (Excel) form.

Usage information for each controlled vocabulary is available in the vocabulary documentation. Usage instructions specific to DDI Lifecycle, as well as recommendations for citing the CVs outside DDI are also available, along with examples. The published DDI-CVs work with both versions of the DDI specification.

Please note that the production, publication, and maintenance of translations are currently outside CVG's scope, but CVG would appreciate being informed if other agencies are interested in, or planning to undertake such tasks. If translations are produced by other organizations, CVG can make them available for consultation, but will not assume responsibility for their content, or maintenance. Currently, the following translations are available for reference:

The CVG functions as the management team for the vocabularies. Comments, as well as suggestions for amendments or additions, are welcome from all users. To provide feedback, or submit proposals for changes, please contact the CVG. Please note that the production, publication, and maintenance of translations are currently outside CVG's scope, but CVG would appreciate being informed if other agencies are interested in, or planning to undertake such tasks.

The DDI CV versioning policy as described below has been approved by the DDI Alliance in November 2012 and is published and implemented starting February 2013. This new protocol supersedes the previous policy which was based on a three-digit version numbering system. Users who have referenced these vocabularies prior to February 1, 2013 will need to retroactively change any reference to V. 1.0.0 into V. 1.0. From that point on, new versions can be used and referenced normally.

The controlled vocabularies versioning policy is based on an intellectual, or logical, assessment of the nature of change, which distinguishes between substantive and non-substantive changes in the CVs, as described further below. To reflect this distinction, the version numbering system is based on a two-level structure (examples: 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 2.0, etc.). A change in the integral part of the decimal number will indicate a substantive change in the controlled vocabulary. A substantive change is any change in the list's short name, long name (title), content, or meaning as well as in a code's value or meaning. A change in the fractional part of the version number will indicate a non-substantive change. Non-substantive changes are changes in wording, spelling, etc. (i.e., "form") that do not involve changes in intellectual content or meaning. All version levels (i.e., the full decimal number, even when the fractional part is zero) will always be mentioned.

Versioning of the CVs is done at the level of each published controlled vocabulary, and not at the item level.

An item in a CV list consists of the following parts:

The following table lists the controlled terms or phrases used to document CV changes, provides the logical expression as well as a natural language description for each type of change, and indicates whether a change is substantive or non-substantive.

In addition to a change in the version number, each new version of a CV will contain documentation about how the new CV compares with the previous version. In the Genericode XML, the changes will be documented using the following structure:

CV LONG NAME CHANGED:

Kind Of Data Format changed to General Data Format

CV SHORT NAME CHANGED:

KindOfDataFormat changed to GeneralDataFormat

CV DEFINITION AMENDED:

AnalysisUnit

CODE REMOVED:

SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.FixedForm
SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.Interactive

CODE ADDED:

Other

CODE TAKEOVER:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI taken over by Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI

CODE MERGER:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI and Interview.FaceToFace.CAMI merged into Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI.

CODE SPLIT OFF:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI narrowed. Remainder of the meaning split between Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI and Interview.FaceToFace.CAMI.

CODE BREAKDOWN:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI removed. Meaning distributed between Interview.FaceToFace.CAPI and Interview.FaceToFace.CAMI

CODE TRANSFER:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI narrowed. Remainder of the meaning transferred to Interview.FaceToFace.CAMI.

CODE VALUE CHANGED:

Interview.FaceToFace.CAPICAMI changed to Interview.FaceToFace.CAPIorCAMI

CODE DEFINITION AMENDED:

Longitudinal.Panel

CODE DEFINITION REPHRASED:

Interview
SelfAdministeredQuestionnaire.CAWI

DESCRIPTIVE TERM REPHRASED:

Interview: Face-to-face: CAOI rephrased into Interview: Face-to-face: CAPI

CV DEFINITION REPHRASED:

AnalysisUnit

Note: DDI-CVG has also produced a set of guidelines to support controlled vocabularies users in retrofitting their collections following the publication of new CV versions. Please note that these are only intended as recommendations, and are not being enforced as part of the versioning policy.