Multiple Conditions/variables in an IF-THEN statement SAS - if-statement

Question

I have a data set which has two variables I'm trying to create new groups from. The first variable is "religiosity" and the second is "Av_Anti", both are numeric variables. I'm trying to create groups to separate into 9 groups, with low/mid/high religiosity AND low/mid/high Av_Anti.
DATA LYING1;
SET LYING;
IF RELIGIOSITY = (1 OR 2) AND Av_anti <=3 THEN Rel_Anti = "LowR,LowA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (1 OR 2) AND Av_anti (>3 AND <=7) THEN Rel_Anti = "LowR,MidA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (1 OR 2) AND Av_anti >7 THEN Rel_Anti = "LowR,HighA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (3 OR 4 OR 5) AND Av_anti <=3 THEN Rel_Anti = "MidR,LowA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (3 OR 4 OR 5) AND Av_anti (>3 AND <=7) THEN Rel_Anti = "MidR,MidA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (3 OR 4 OR 5) AND Av_anti >7 THEN Rel_Anti = "MidR,HighA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (6 OR 7) AND Av_anti <=3 THEN Rel_Anti = "HighR,LowA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (6 OR 7) AND Av_anti (>3 AND <=7) THEN Rel_Anti = "HighR,MidA";
IF RELIGIOSITY = (6 OR 7) AND Av_anti >7 THEN Rel_Anti = "HighR,HighA";
ELSE Rel_Anti = "Error";
RUN;
I keep getting the message
"The function AV_ANTI is unknown, or cannot be accessed."
The thing is, I've checked that variable, its spelled correctly and its listed in the called dataset. I don't know why SAS wouldn't be recognizing it as a variable? I also seem to be getting some issues with the logical operators (the >, <=). Am I missing something?

Answer 1

You have invalid SAS Syntax in your comparisons/ranges.
You should use the IN operator to check for inclusion in a list of values and then compare each variable to boundaries for each comparison. (i.e. not
Not:
Av_anti (>3 AND <=7)
But:
Av_anti>3 and Av_anti<=7
or :
3<AV_atni<=7
The following should work. I also think you intend to have else if rather than all if's throughout, otherwise your last condition will set all to Error or LowR/MidA.
DATA LYING1;
SET LYING;
IF RELIGIOSITY in (1, 2) AND Av_anti <=3 THEN Rel_Anti = "LowR,LowA";
ELSE IF RELIGIOSITY in (1, 2) AND (Av_anti >3 AND AV_anti<=7) THEN Rel_Anti = "LowR,MidA";
...
ELSE Rel_Anti = "Error";
RUN;
A better solution might be:
Data lying1;
set lying;
IF RELIGIOSITY in (1, 2) then P1='LowR';
else IF RELIGIOSITY in (3, 4, 5) then P1='MidR';
else IF RELIGIOSITY in (6,7) then P1='HighR';
else P1='Error';
if av_anti<=3 then P2='LowA';
else if 3<av_anti<=7 then P2='MidA';
else if AV_Anti>7 then 'HighA';
else P2='Error';
Rel_Anti=catx(",", P1, P2);
run;