National Youth Survey (NYS), 1976-1987

DESCRIPTION : National Youth Survey, designed to gain a better understanding of both conventional and deviant types of behavior by youths, involved collecting information from a representative sample of young people in the United States . The first wave of this survey was conducted in 1976, the second wave in 1977, the third wave in 1978, the fourth in 1979, the fifth wave in 1980, the sixth wave in 1983, and the seventh wave in 1987.

Sampling : In each wave, the universe is youths in the United States. Area probability sampling was used and resulted a national sample of the American youth population. There are total 1,725 cases interviewed in each year.

Data Structure: The data file structure for each wave is rectangular. The data set for Wave 1 contains one record for each case; the data set for Wave 2, Wave 3, Wave 4 and Wave 5 contains 2 records for each case; the data set for Wave 6 contains 4 records for each case and the data set for Wave 7 contains 35 records for each case.

Topical Coverage: Data are available on the demographic and socioeconomic status of respondents, disruptive events for parents, neighborhood problems, employment, children, aspirations and current successes, normlessness, labeling by parents, perceived disapproval by parents, peers, co-workers, and partner, attitudes toward deviance, exposure to delinquent peers, self-reported delinquency, drug and alcohol use, victimization, pregnancy, depression, use of outpatient services, spouse violence by respondent and partner, and sexual activity.

For each wave, the following files are included:

Data collection instrument
Machine-readable documentation
1 data file
SAS data definition statements
SPSS data definition statements

CODEBOOKS : Codebooks are available in the CFDR office on CD or in pdf format on the local area network (in PUBLIC/DATA folder) .

DATA : The data are available for each wave separately (1976-1987). They may be obtained through the ICPSR Web Site or directly from CFDR by filling out a CFDR data request form or contacting the CFDR office at 372-7279. CFDR supplies data files for use with statistical software, such as SAS or SPSS.

WEBLINKS : Information about the data set is also available on website: www.icpsr.umich.edu.