12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

12. NLTS2 Documentation:Quick References

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Overview Purpose Contents Instruments and files Demographics Topic areas Sections by wave Programming examples Closing Important information

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Contents

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Instruments and files • Instruments and files in

the NLTS2 database Lists the

• Data source• Wave• File name• Variable prefix• Main weight variable.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Instruments and files: Example• Parent survey for Wave 1 lists

n2w1Parent (file name)np1 (variable prefix) np1Weight (weight)

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Demographics: Details

12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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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.”

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Topic areas: Details

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

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.

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Programming examples: Detail

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Programming examples: Detail

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Closing• Topics discussed in this module

Purpose Contents Instruments and files Demographics Topic areas Sections by wave Programming examples

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Closing• Next module:

13. Analysis Demonstration: Descriptive/Comparative Analysis Using Longitudinal Data

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12. NLTS2 Documentation: Quick References

Important information NLTS2 website contains reports, data tables, and

other project-related information http://nlts2.org/

Information about obtaining the NLTS2 database and documentation can be found on the NCES website 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.asp

E-mail address: nlts2@sri.com