Abstract
Software to perform record linkage should have several characteristics: (1) portability
in being able to function with researchers’ current arrangement of computer systems
and languages, (2) flexibility in handling different linkage strategies, and (3) low
cost in both computer time and researchers’ efforts. A linkage package (LINKS) is
described which satisfies these criteria; LINKS provides tools for both deterministic
and probabilistic linkage as well as test modules for assessing data quality and structure.
Because each linkage project is different, the modular nature of the software allows
for better control of the programming process and development of unique strategies.
Since the user provides the weights and decision rules, he may modify data between
steps and/or develop extra steps to supplement the basic modules. In two information-rich
linkage projects involving California AIDS data, LINKS identified mortality using
deterministic approaches and permitted comparisons with other software and strategies.
Flexible software and a deterministic approach would have eliminated the expensive
key entry used to add full names and social security numbers as additional identifiers
to one of the California data files.
Key-words
Record Linkage - Software - Data Banks - AIDS
