Instructions for Analyzing Data from CAHPS Surveys

CAHPS ® Surveys and Instructions
results, the “positive” response should have the highest value. Raw data for this type
of variables will need to be recoded as the precodes typically set the values of the
responses to 1 and 2 rather than 0 and 1.
Response value
Label/description
0 No
1 Yes
All other values
Not analyzed by the SAS program
Three Response Options. Any variable with three response options should be coded
as shown in the table below. For easier interpretation of the results, the “positive”
response should have the highest value. Reverse coding may be necessary to ensure
that the most positive response has the highest value—for example, where “Yes,
definitely” is the most positive response.
Response value
Label/description
1 Yes, definitely
2 Yes, somewhat
3 No
All other values
Not analyzed by the SAS program
Four-Point Frequency scale. Variables with “never” to “always” response options
are coded as shown in the table below. Any variable with four response options
should be coded in this manner. For easier interpretation, the “positive” response
should have the highest value. Reverse coding may be necessary to ensure that the
most positive response has the highest value—for example, where “never” is the most
positive response.
Response value
Label/description
1 Never
2 Sometimes
3 Usually
4 Always
All other values
Not analyzed by the SAS program
Response value
Label/description
1 Definitely no
2 Somewhat no
3 Somewhat yes
4 Definitely yes
All other values
Not analyzed by the SAS program
Instructions for Analyzing Data from CAHPS Surveys
Document No. 2015
Updated 4/2/12
Page 15