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 1998 the 1995 Year 9 sample consisted primarily of young people in Year 12 in secondary school. Therefore, the emphasis was school activities. The section on school included questions on subjects being studied in 1998 and whether they were being studied at tertiary-entrance level and questions on vocational education and training. These topics were included in addition to the areas on which information is sought annually (see above). AC Nielsen conducted the 1998 telephone survey. They approached a total 10,249 panel members and 9738 were successfully interviewed, representing a response rate of 95%. There were 289 refusals, 182 were unable to be contacted and 40 were unable to be interviewed for other reasons. This technical report details the responses provided by cohort members in 1998.

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