Each NLSY97 questionnaire includes an interviewer remarks section that interviewers complete after finishing the interview with the respondent. Some of the information is objective (the presence of another person during the survey, for instance) while other information is subjective on the part of the interviewer (such as rating how cooperative the respondent was). Interviewer remarks variables have the prefix "YIR" in their question name. Interviewers do not receive specific training on completing subjective items, so ratings are not likely to be comparable across interviewers.
Special circumstances. All survey rounds feature a series of questions about special circumstances that might have affected the quality of the data. The interviewers were asked to assess whether the respondent was hard of hearing, unable to see well, unable to read, lacking in basic social skills, mentally handicapped or retarded, physically handicapped, ill/injured, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, had a poor command of English, or experienced environmental distractions during the interview. Starting in round 6, interviewers also were asked to assess whether the respondent had reading abilities good enough to complete the self-administered sections of the interview without an audio component.
Respondent's general demeanor and responsiveness. In all survey rounds, interviewers rated how informative/cooperative and how candid/honest a respondent appeared during the interview. In addition, the interviews assessed the respondent's overall understanding (good, fair, poor) of the questions. From round 2 on, the interviewer also recorded the number of calls and/or visits needed to complete the interview. In round 10 a question was added about whether respondents themselves ever initiated contact by email, by calling the 800 number, or by returning the advance letter. Also added in round 10 were questions about whether the respondent received a gift card or other in-kind payments in addition to the regular respondent payment.
Other respondent characteristics. Starting in round 2, interviewers recorded race and gender for each respondent based on the interviewers' observations. Beginning in round 6, the race question conformed to new OMB guidelines on collecting racial identification of individuals. The same guidelines are followed in all race questions in the NLSY97 interview since round 6.
Presence of others during interview. All survey rounds include information about whether others were present (listening and/or participating) during the interview and who the person or persons were (infant child, family member, etc.). Interviewers attempt to secure a private environment for all interviews, so the presence of another individual (other than a small child) is an exception and can be considered a disruption to the interview.
Home and neighborhood characteristics. In each survey round, the interviewer recorded where the interview took place: inside the respondent's home, immediately outside the respondent's home, in the interviewer's vehicle, or in a separate location. In survey rounds 1-5, where possible, interviewers assessed the exterior and interior condition of the respondent's home and the general state of other buildings in the neighborhood. Interviewers for rounds 1-5 also provided a description of the neighborhood (rural, urban, etc.), the most common type of residence (single home or apartment buildings, for example) found on the respondent's street, and whether the interviewer was concerned for his or her safety while at the interview.
Interviewer characteristics. Beginning in round 6, interviewers provided information on their own ethnicity, year of birth, gender, highest grade completed, occupation, and how much experience (measured in years) they had as an interviewer. Interviewer characteristics variables begin with the prefix "INTERVIEWER."
Interview methodology. Starting in round 2, interviewers recorded whether any portion of the interview took place on the phone. In all rounds, interviewers indicated if the interview was in Spanish or English.
Interviewer retention. Starting in round 2, interviewers indicated each survey round whether they had interviewed that respondent the previous survey year.