Question
Why do values in the ConsumerView HH & Individual fields contradict the Household Composition Code? Sometimes other field values in a CV household record don't support the description of the Household Composition value. For example, there might be two adult females in a household record but the Household Composition is A (HH w/1 adult female). Or another record has 2 adults with a Composition code of B (HH w/1 adult male).
Answer
The first thing to note is the ConsumerView file delivers 6 of up to 8 persons in a Living Unit. Not every person is delivered which may impact the Household Composition Code. Another consideration is the description does not define the exact makeup of the household. For example, a Household Composition code of "A" (HH w/1 adult female) does not mean this household is exclusively made up of a single adult female.
Household Composition - This field is calculated based on gender and children present in the Living Unit. On the Household Composition, Experian looks at everyone in the Living Unit provided to them and determines how many adults are present in each Living Unit, gender of those individuals and if children are present in that living unit, coding them according to the codes chart.
* A = HH w/1 adult female (no adult male, no child) * B = HH w/1 adult male (no adlt F, no child) * C = HH w/1 adult female and 1 adult male (no child) * D = HH w/1 adult female, 1 adult male and children present * E = HH w/1 adult female and children present (no adult male) * F = HH w/1 adult male and children present (no adult female) * I = HH w/2 or more adult males and children present (This does not mean there is not an adult female present in the household) * J = HH w/2 or more adult females and children present (This does not mean there is not an adult male present in the household) * G = HH w/2 or more adult males (An adult female can also be present in household, no child)) * H = HH w/2 or more adult females (An adult male can also be present in household, no child) * U = Unable to code
Records coded with C and D are typically scenarios where there's a male and female with/without children. I - H could be one of these situations below:
1.) Scenarios where an elderly parent living with their adult children. 2.) Roommates (both male and female, young and old) 3.) Scenarios where a married couple allows an in-law (the brother or sister of a spouse) to reside with them 4.) Scenarios where a relative (uncle, cousin, etc.) may live with their relatives 5.) College age children (ages 19+) living with parents.
When might the Household Composition value not match the houehold attributes? In one scenario, 2 Adults in a household with a Code of "A," more than likely there are two female adults in the household. This could be a roommate situation, it could be a mother and older daughter. Only one female may be a PDM in a household. Because of this, the record would receive the Household Composition code of “A” meaning a household with one adult female even though there are two adult females present.
In the "Question" example of two adult females in a household record but the Household Composition is A (HH w/1 adult female), this household looks as if it is more likely two sisters residing together as the ages are close together. One is listed as the PDM, the other is listed as the other adult. The system assigned the living unit an A denoting the female PDM.
The second "Question" example of 2 adults with a Code of "B" may be a household with a parent living with adult child situation. The adult child is coded as the PDM and the other person is only an initial and coded as the other adult. The system assigned the living unit a B denoting the male PDM.
In situations where fields in specific records are questionable and need further validation, provide those records to data_products@alteryx.com explaining the issue. Also include the vintage of the ConsumerView Household or Individual file.
Experian's ConsumerView file is built directly from hundreds of public and proprietary sources. They employ rigorous data testing including applying proprietary models and algorithms to ensure only the most deliverable addresses and accurate data elements are on the ConsumerView database. Attached to this article is an excellent User Guide for the ConsumerView dataset. This User Guide is also included in the US Data Bundle documentation.
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