NLTS2 Data Documentation & Dictionaries

Revised: December 2012

Included here are the data documentation and dictionaries for all five waves of NLTS2. The information is unrestricted, does not contain n’s (i.e., number of subjects), and is available to the general public.

Waves 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 Data Documentation and Dictionary

Data Documentation

NLTS2 Database Overview
NLTS2 Database Structure
Index of Variables
Notes to SPSS Users
SPSS Programming Code Examples for Collapsing Variables
Quick References
Contents of Data Files

December 2012 Revisions

Documentation Revisions Log
Data Dictionary Revisions Log
Data Revisions Log

A: Wave 1 Data Collection

Wave 1 Data Collection Data Dictionaries
Wave 1 Data Collection Instruments
Wave 1 Contents of Data Files

B: Wave 2 Data Collection

Wave 2 Data Collection Data Dictionaries
Wave 2 Data Collection Instruments
Wave 2 Contents of Data Files

C: Wave 3 Data Collection

Wave 3 Data Collection Data Dictionaries
Wave 3 Data Collection Instruments
Wave 3 Contents of Data Files

D: Wave 4 Data Collection

Wave 4 Data Collection Data Dictionaries
Wave 4 Data Collection Instruments
Wave 4 Contents of Data Files

E: Wave 5 Data Collection

Wave 5 Data Collection Data Dictionaries
Wave 5 Data Collection Instruments
Wave 5 Contents of Data Files

Data Dictionaries

A. Wave 1 Data Collection Data Dictionaries

A1: Parent Survey
A2: Teacher Survey
A3: Student’s School Program Survey
A4: School Characteristics Survey
A5: Cross-Instrument Data
Note: SAS and SPSS users see data file documentation below

B. Wave 2 Data Collection Data Dictionaries

B1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 1 Parent/Guardian
B1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 2 Youth or Parent/Guardian
B2: Wave 1/Wave 2 Direct Assessment
B3: Wave 1/Wave 2 Alternate Assessment
B4: Teacher Questionnaire
B5: Student’s School Program Questionnaire
Note: SAS and SPSS users see data file documentation below

C. Wave 3 Data Collection Data Dictionaries

C1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 1 Parent/Guardian
C1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 2 Youth or Parent/Guardian
Note: SAS and SPSS users see data file documentation below

D. Wave 4 Data Collection Data Dictionaries

D1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 1 Parent/Guardian
D1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 2 Youth or Parent/Guardian
Note: SAS and SPSS users see data file documentation below

E. Wave 5 Data Collection Data Dictionaries

E1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 1 Parent/Guardian
E1: Parent/Youth Survey: Part 2 Youth or Parent/Guardian
E2: Transcript Data
E3: Cross-Instrument Data
E4: Sample Data
E5: Weights
Note: SAS and SPSS users see data file documentation below

Data Collection Instruments

A. Wave 1 Data Collection Instruments

A1: Parent Survey
         Parent Interview
         Parent Mail Questionaire
A2: Teacher Survey
A3: Student’s School Program Survey
         Student’s School Program Questionnaire – Regular Version
         Student’s School Program Questionnaire – Special Version
A4: School Characteristics Survey
         School Characteristics Questionnaire – Regular Version
         School Characteristics Questionnaire – Special Version

B. Wave 2 Data Collection Instruments

B1: Parent/Youth Survey
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Part 1
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Interview: Youth Continuation Part 2
         Youth Mail Questionnaire
B2/B3: Assessments (Direct and Alternate)
B4: Teacher Questionnaire
B5: Student's School Program Survey
         Student’s School Program Questionnaire – Regular Version
         Student’s School Program Questionnaire – Special Version

C. Wave 3 Data Collection Instruments

C1: Parent/Youth Survey
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Part 1
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Interview: Youth Continuation Part 2
         Youth Mail Questionnaire

D. Wave 4 Data Collection Instruments

D1: Parent/Youth Survey
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Part 1
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Interview: Youth Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Abbreviated Interview
         Family Survey Mail Questionnaire
         Youth Mail Questionnaire

E. Wave 5 Data Collection Instruments

E1: Parent/Youth Survey
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Part 1
         Parent/Youth Interview: Parent Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Interview: Youth Continuation Part 2
         Parent/Youth Abbreviated Interview
         Family Survey Mail Questionnaire
         Youth Mail Questionnaire

Data File Documentation
Contents of Data File

A. Wave 1 Data Collection

A1: Parent Survey
A2: Teacher Survey
A3: Student’s School Program Survey
A4: School Characteristics Survey
A5: Cross-Instrument Data

B. Wave 2 Data Collection

B1: Parent/Youth Survey
B2: Direct Assessment
B3: Alternate Assessment
B4: Teacher Questionnaire
B5: Student's School Program Questionnaire

C. Wave 3 Data Collection

C1: Parent/Youth Survey

D. Wave 4 Data Collection

D1: Parent/Youth Survey

E. Wave 5 Data Collection

E1: Parent/Youth Survey
E: Waves 1-5 Data Collection
    E2: Transcript Data
        Course Data
        Grade Data
        Overall Data
        Summary Data
    E3. Cross Instrument
    E4. Sample Data
    E5. Weights