Rate Selection Tab

The Selection tab is used to select the records to be included in the analysis. If no selection statements are made on the Selection tab, all records in the database will be included. Selection statements reduce the number of records included in an analysis based on specific variables.

The Selection tab and Table tab are often confused; please read Selection Tab vs. Table Tab to avoid common mistakes.

Select Only (Standard Selections)

At the top of each Selection tab is a section with checkboxes. The section is marked Select Only. These are the standard selections for the analysis of the database you have chosen. The View Statement link next to the Select Only section open the Standard Selection Details dialog describing the checked selections. The checkboxes in the Select Only section are:

Malignant Behavior – Select this option to include only cases with a malignant behavior. The behavior variable is part of the morphology of cancer. The SEER program only collects information on in situ and malignant cancers. If the behavior code is malignant, the case will be included in the analysis.
Known Age – Select this option to include only cases of a known age.
Male or Female Sex – Select this option to include only cases where sex is either Male of Female (for example no cases of unknown or transgender patients).
Cases in Research Database – Select this option to include only cases in the selected Research Database.

View Statements Link

This link opens the Standard Selection Details dialog, which provides information on the standard options selected.

Creating Selection Statements in Rate Sessions

The Selection tab in a Rate session consists of three boxes. Each variable in the database appears in only one of the three boxes on the Rate session's Selection tab.

Age at Diagnosis (Std Pop, Pop, Case Files) – The box at the top must be used to create selection statements based on variables that are found in all three types of data used to calculate age-adjusted rates. Age is the only variable used to stratify standard population, population, and case data. In this box, SEER*Stat will not allow you to create selection statements based on variables other than the age variable that is in all three data sources (an "Age recode" variable, in SEER databases).
Sex, Year DX (Pop, Case Files) – The middle box must be used to select based on variables found in both the population and case data. The label above the box is provided as a guide. Race, sex, year of diagnosis, registry, and county are the variables that are not in the standard population data but are in both the case and population data.
Other (Case Files) – The third box must be used to select based on variables that are found only in the case data. This includes cancer-specific variables such as stage at diagnosis, histology, site, etc. Note: There are demographic variables in case data files that are not included in the population or standard population data. These include marital status, place of birth, and alternate race, age, and date variables. It is rarely, if ever, appropriate to use these variables in a Rate session.

Click the Edit button next to one of the boxes to create or modify a selection statement in that box (using the Case Selection dialog). Click the Clear button next to each box to delete its current selection statement.

When making selections in a Rate session, make your selection in the topmost possible box. For example, never make selections based on race or age in the case-only box at the bottom. That would result in erroneous statistics because inappropriate populations were used as the denominators in the calculations. (Note: A warning message will be displayed if you attempt to execute a session with this error. However, not all erroneous situations can be identified by SEER*Stat; therefore, you must exercise care.)

Select Only the First Matching Record for Each Person

When the Select the first Matching Record for each Person checkbox is checked, only the first record for each person who matches the selection criteria will be included in your analysis.