How do you combine categorical and numerical variables?

[Shima Shakory]

How can I combine variables?

These variables all refer to use of prescription benzodiazepines:

valium
ativan
benzo_other

The variables are categorical:
- More than once per day
- Once per day
- A few times per wee
- Weekly or less
- Monthly or less
- I haven't taken this

Because sample sizes are so small, I'd like to combine these variables to ONE variable on benzodiazepine use.

Could you please help me with a code or command?

I also have numerical variables I'd like to combine

[Ken Chui]

Welcome to Statalist!

This question is not easy to answer because the formats of the variable are not clear. Approach can be different if a variable is numeric with a label, or is a character-based string variable. Please take some time to carefully read the FAQ (http://www.statalist.org/forums/help), and then use -dataex- to provide some sample data (they don't need to be real data, they just need to be formatted the same way as your real data.)

If you do that, it may increase the chance of getting some useful answers or codes.

[Joseph Coveney]

Because sample sizes are so small, I'd like to combine these variables to ONE variable . . .

Ken has given good recommendations, but I'm curious as to what sample size has to do with the need to reformat the indicator variables into a single nominal categorical variable. I don't see the connection.

[Joseph Coveney]

single nominal categorical variable → single ordered categorical variable