2014 Panel Wave 4: ESPEAK Errors Affecting the Other Three Language Variables

Errors in data editing have caused some respondents who should have been coded as speaking a language other than English at home (ESPEAK = 1) to instead be coded as not speaking a language other than English at home (ESPEAK = 2). These respondents also should have received a value for the variable TLANG1 to indicate which language other than English they spoke at home, as well as a value for EHOWWELL to indicate how well they spoke English; instead, these respondents were classified as not in universe for TLANG1 and EHOWWELL. The respondents with these erroneous data are present across all panels and waves in the 2014–2023 data. In the unweighted 2014–2022 data, they account for small portions of the universes for ESPEAK, TLANG1, and EHOWWELL. The error was mitigated after 2022 and, in the unweighted 2023 data, the erroneous data account for extremely small portions of the universes for ESPEAK, TLANG1, and EHOWWELL. This misclassification of some ESPEAK observations affects a small number of individuals classified as living in households that are limited-English speaking, that is, by misclassifying them as RLNGISOL = 2 instead of as RLNGISOL = 1. Data users should be aware of this issue when using ESPEAK, TLANG1, EHOWWELL, or RLNGISOL, particularly if comparing estimates over time.

Page Last Revised - July 23, 2025