The NLSY97 Cohort is a longitudinal project that follows the lives of a sample of American youth born between 1980-84. Data are now available from Round 1 (1997 survey year) to Round 13 (2009 survey year).
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.
NLSY97 User's Guide
Introduction to the NLSY97 Sample
Description of the sample, the sample design and screening process, interview methods, retention and reason for non-interview, and confidentiality.
Using and Understanding NLSY97 Data
Information on survey instruments, types of variables, methodological data about the interviewing process (interview validation, interview timings, and interviewer remarks and characteristics), item nonresponse, sample weights and design effects, a description of the data documentation, and how to use the NLS Investigator to access data.
Topic-by-topic descriptions of the data, a crosswalk between the Investigator's Areas of Interest and the listed topics in this guide, a table of topics across 13 survey rounds, and a glossary of terms.
Other NLSY97 Documentation:
Tutorials
Constructing Comparable Samples Across the NLSY79 and NLSY97 (Example: Constructing work status at age 20 for both samples)
Matching Cohabiting Partners to Their Characteristics in the NLSY97
- Variable Search Using the NLS Investigator
NLSY97 Codebook Supplement: Appendices and attachments including industrial/occupational classifications, variable creation documentation, roster explanations, and other details designed to aid in the understanding of NLSY97 public data
NLSY97 Geocode Codebook Supplement: Documentation for NLSY97 geocode data including state and county codes, MSA codes, and college identification codes
Questionnaires:
- Round 1 Youth Questionnaire (PDF)
- Round 1 Parent and Screener Questionnaires (PDF)
- Round 2 (PDF)
- Round 3 (PDF)
- Round 4 (HTML)
- Round 5 (HTML)
- Round 6 (HTML)
- Round 7 (HTML)
- Round 8 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 9 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 10 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 11 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 12 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 13 (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 14 preliminary questionnaire (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
- Round 15 preliminary questionnaire (large HTML file; please be patient when opening)
NLSY97 Technical Sampling Report: Detailed description of the NLSY97 sampling process (PDF)
NLSY97 Interviewer Reference Manual (PDF)