The NLSY79 Cohort is a longitudinal project that follows the lives of a sample of American youth born between 1957-64. Data are now available from 1979 to 2010. This User's Guide describes the data through 2008; a new edition is currently being written.
NLSY User-Initiated Questions: We're soliciting suggestions for new questions to add to the NLSY97, NLSY79, and child/young adult surveys. Please visit the NLSY User-Initiated Questions page to learn how to make an informal suggestion or submit a formal proposal.
NLSY79 User's Guide
Introduction to the NLSY79 Sample
Description of the sample, the sample design and screening process, interview methods, retention and reason for non-interview, and confidentiality.
Using and Understanding NLSY79 Data
Information on survey instruments, types of variables, interviewer remarks, item nonresponse, interview validation, sample weights and design effects, a description of the data documentation, and how to use the NLS Web Investigator to access data.
Topic-by-topic descriptions of the data, a crosswalk between the Web Investigator's Areas of Interest and the listed topics in this guide, a table of topics across all survey rounds, and a glossary of terms.
Other NLSY79 Documentation:
Tutorials
- Constructing Comparable Samples across the NLSY79 and NLSY97 (Example: Constructing work status at age 20 for both samples)
- Variable Search in the New NLS Investigator
NLSY79 Codebook Supplement: Appendices and attachments including industrial/occupational classifications, variable creation documentation, roster explanations, and other details designed to aid in the understanding of NLSY79 public data
NLSY79 Geocode Codebook Supplement: Documentation for NLSY79 geocode data including state and county codes, MSA codes, and college identification codes
Questionnaires: (Please note that some of the PDF files, in particular the 1993 Questionnaire, are quite large. Please be patient when opening. Contact NLS User Services if you need to obtain these files in an alternate method due to the large file size.)
NLSY79 Technical Sampling Report: Detailed description of the NLSY79 sampling process (PDF)
NLSY79 High School and Transcript Survey Documentation (PDF)
NLSY79 Profiles of American Youth-Attachment 106 and Addendum (PDF)
List of NLSY79 Errata (HTML)