National Longitudinal Survey of Youth | 1997
The NLSY97 Cohort is a longitudinal project that follows the lives of a sample of American youth born between 1980-84; 8,984 respondents were ages 12-17 when first interviewed in 1997. This ongoing cohort has been surveyed 19 times to date and is now interviewed biennially. Data are now available from Round 1 (1997-98) to Round 19 (2019-2020), along with a COVID-19 supplement fielded in 2021.
Topical Guide to the Data
Topic-by-topic descriptions of the NLS Youth 1997 data, a crosswalk between the NLS Investigator’s Areas of Interest, and a glossary of terms.
Introduction to the Sample
Description of the sample, the sample design and screening process, interview methods, retention and reason for non-interview, and confidentiality.Using and Understanding the Data
Information on survey instruments, variables types, the interviewing process, item nonresponse, sample weights and design effects, data documentation, and how to access the data.Asterisk Tables
Table of NLS Youth 1997 topics across all survey rounds (often referred to as the "Asterisk Table.")
Other Documentation
Tutorials, NLS Youth 1997 Codebook Supplement, Geocode Supplement, Technical Sampling Report, List of Errata, and questionnaires for all rounds.