LSAY Technical Reports

Publication Date

11-1999

Abstract

In 1995, a nationally representative sample of approximately 13,000 Year 9 students was selected to form the first cohort of the new Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth program. The sample was constructed by randomly selecting two Year 9 classes from a national sample of 300 schools designed to represent state and sector. Reading and numeracy tests were administered to students in their schools to provide information on early school achievement for use in later analyses of educational and labour market participation. Students also completed a background questionnaire about their educational and vocational plans and attitudes to school. In 1996 these students provided information in response to a mailed questionnaire. Information was also obtained from their schools about curricula and organisation. In 1997 members of the sample were contacted in the first of the annual telephone interviews (conducted by AC Nielsen, then Reark Research). That questionnaire included questions on school; transitions from school; post school education and training; work; job history; job search history; non-labour force activities; health, living arrangements and finance; and general attitudes. Subsequent surveys have asked similar questions but with the emphasis changing over time from school, to post-school education and training, and work . In 1997 the 1995 Year 9 sample consisted primarily of young people in Year 11 in secondary school. Therefore, the emphasis was school activities. The section on school included questions on subjects being studied in 1997 and work-place learning programs. These topics were included in addition to the areas on which information is sought annually (see above). AC Nielsen conducted the 1997 telephone survey. They approached a total of 11,688 panel members and 10,307 were successfully interviewed, representing a response rate of 88.2%. There were 395 refusals, 899 were unable to be contacted and 87 were unable to be interviewed for other reasons. This technical report details the responses provided by cohort members in 1997.

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