1. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

2. 1 Prerequisites Recommended modules to complete before viewing this module  1. Introduction to the NLTS2 Training Modules  2. NLTS2 Study Overview  3. NLTS2 Study Design and Sampling  NLTS2 Data Sources, either 4. Parent and Youth Surveys or 5. School Surveys, Student Assessments, and Transcripts  NLTS2 Documentation 10. Overview 11. Data Dictionaries

3. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 2 Overview  Purpose  Contents  Instruments and files  Demographics  Topic areas  Sections by wave  Programming examples  Closing  Important information

4. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 3 Purpose Quick References is meant to be a resource to help understand the database and data sources. Some of this information may appear elsewhere but not in the same format. Some of the information included here is not included elsewhere in the documentation, such as programming tips. Quick References begin with a hyperlinked table of contents.

5. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 4 Contents

6. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 5 Instruments and files Instruments and files in the NLTS2 database  Lists the Data source Wave File name Variable prefix Main weight variable.

7. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 6 Instruments and files: Example Parent survey for Wave 1 lists  n2w1Parent (file name) np1 (variable prefix) np1Weight (weight)

8. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 7 Demographics Demographics by data source and wave  Lists all the demographic variables by Type of demographic—such as race/ethnicity Data source—such as parent/youth interview, direct assessment, etc. Variable name for that wave Values for the variable.

9. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 8 Demographics: Details

10. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 9 Topic areas: Quick references Questionnaire topic areas by section letters  For each instrument, lists the sections and the topics addressed in each section.  For example, the Parent Survey Wave 1 lists Section A with the topic area “Student characteristics” followed by Section B “Disability characteristics/health.”

11. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 10 Topic areas: Details

12. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 11 Sections by wave Parent/youth questionnaire topic area section letters by wave  By topic area, lists the section letter for parent and youth by Wave 1, Waves 2-4, and Wave 5. Unlike other surveys in NLTS2, the parent/youth survey sections can vary from wave to wave.

13. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 12 Sections by wave: Detail Questions about expectation for parents are found in:  Section J in Wave 1 and G in Waves 2 and 3; they are not in Wave 5.  Section V in Waves 2 and 3 only.

14. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 13 Programming examples Basic programming examples  Include basic programming code for common tasks such as opening a file, joining files, recoding variables, and running routine procedures. SPSS programming examples are in two sections.  Menu driven and syntax. SAS is syntax only. Both sections include a few programming tips and a warning.

15. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 14 Programming examples The examples in the slides are for guidance, but they do not replace your installation software documentation, local programming standards, and procedures, and may not be using the same software version as installed at your site.  SAS, SPSS, and other software have websites and may have examples of programming code.  Conferences such as the SAS Global Forum publish presentations with examples of programming code.  Web searches can provide programming examples to use at your own risk.

16. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 15 Programming examples: Detail

17. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 16 Programming examples: Detail

18. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 17 Closing Topics discussed in this module  Purpose  Contents  Instruments and files  Demographics  Topic areas  Sections by wave  Programming examples

19. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 18 Closing Next module:  13. Analysis Demonstration: Descriptive/Comparative Analysis Using Longitudinal Data

20. 12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References 19 Important information  NLTS2 website contains reports, data tables, and other project-related information http://nlts2.org/http://nlts2.org/  Information about obtaining the NLTS2 database and documentation can be found on the NCES website http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/rudman/http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/rudman/  General information about restricted data licenses can be found on the NCES website http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asphttp://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asp  E-mail address: nlts2@sri.com