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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97)

Errata for NLSY97 Round 8 Release

Important information: Errata updates in NLS Investigator

The NLS Investigator contains the most recent public release of each NLS cohort. Corrections have been made based on the items listed below (unless otherwise noted). These older, corrected error notices are retained for archival purposes, such as enabling replication of research performed before the errors were discovered. Please contact NLS User Services for additional information. Note: Any Geocode-related errata corrections have been made to the restricted-use data file. See the Accessing Data / Cohort page for more information on utilizing restricted-use data.

Significant changes made between the October 2005 round 7 event history file release and the October 2006 round 8 file release

  1. Dropped case and sampling weight variables - Round 6 and Round 7

    All data for case 8479 in rounds 6 and 7 have been deleted, as interviewers discovered that the wrong person had been interviewed in those rounds. As a result, the round 6 and round 7 sampling weight variables were recomputed. The change to the round 6 SAMPLING_WEIGHT_CC affected 108 respondents while the change to the round 7 SAMPLING_WEIGHT_CC affected 109 respondents.

  2. NEWSCHOOL Roster - Round 1 and Round 2

    In order to make the use of the NEWSCHOOL roster comparable for all NLSY97 rounds, the following changes were made:

    1. A NEWSCHOOL roster was added to the round 1 year data that includes the school/college that the respondent was attending or had most recently attended at the time of the round 1 interview.
    2. Schools on the round 2 NEWSCHOOL roster that the respondent had not attended since prior to the round 1 interview were removed from the round 2 NEWSCHOOL roster. The removal of these schools produced the changes in the round 2 data that are listed below. The round 2 variables that have been updated for ten or more cases are the following:
      • NEWSCHOOL_START1.01 - 39 cases
      • NEWSCHOOL_STOP1.01 - 39 cases
      • NEWSCHOOL_SCHCODE.01 - 108 cases
      • NEWSCHOOL_INTERVIEW.01 - 115 cases
      • NEWSCHOOL_PUBID.01 - 116 cases

  3. HHI Roster - Round 5 and Round 6

    When the collection of household members' race was switched to a mark-all-that-apply question in round 5, the procedures for collecting and storing the race of household members were changed. These changes contributed to a failure to pass along the race variable data from one round to the next for a significant number of household members. These variables have now been updated in rounds 5 and 6, and the rounds 7 and 8 household race variables are now fully available. Variables that have been updated for ten or more cases are listed below. Click the round number to expand and view each list.

    • HHI_RACE.01~000001 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000002 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000003 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000004 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000005 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000006 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000007 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000999 - 1099 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000001 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000002 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000003 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000004 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000005 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000006 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000007 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000999 - 852 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000001 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000002 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000003 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000004 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000005 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000006 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000007 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000999 - 574 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000001 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000002 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000003 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000004 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000005 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000006 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000007 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000999 - 418 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000001 - 236 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000002 - 235 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000003 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000004 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000005 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000006 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000007 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000999 - 234 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000001 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000002 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000003 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000004 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000005 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000006 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000007 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000999 - 127 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000001 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000002 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000003 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000004 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000005 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000006 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000007 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000999 - 53 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000001 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000002 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000003 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000004 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000005 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000006 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000007 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000999 - 26 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000001 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000002 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000003 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000004 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000005 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000006 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000007 - 10 cases
    • HHI_RACE.09~000999 - 10 cases

    • HHI_RACE.01~000001 - 999 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000002 - 999 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000003 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000004 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000005 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000006 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000007 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000999 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000001 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000002 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000003 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000004 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000005 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000006 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000007 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000999 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000001 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000002 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000003 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000004 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000005 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000006 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000007 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000999 - 487 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000001 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000002 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000003 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000004 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000005 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000006 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000007 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000999 - 314 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000001 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000002 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000003 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000004 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000005 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000006 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000007 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000999 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000001 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000002 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000003 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000004 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000005 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000006 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000007 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000999 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000001 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000002 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000003 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000004 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000005 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000006 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000007 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000999 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000001 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000002 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000003 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000004 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000005 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000006 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000007 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000999 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000001 - 999 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000002 - 999 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000003 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000004 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000005 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000006 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000007 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.01~000999 - 998 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000001 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000002 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000003 - 768 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000004 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000005 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000006 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000007 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.02~000999 - 767 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000001 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000002 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000003 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000004 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000005 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000006 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000007 - 488 cases
    • HHI_RACE.03~000999 - 487 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000001 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000002 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000003 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000004 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000005 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000006 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000007 - 315 cases
    • HHI_RACE.04~000999 - 314 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000001 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000002 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000003 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000004 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000005 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000006 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000007 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.05~000999 - 176 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000001 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000002 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000003 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000004 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000005 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000006 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000007 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.06~000999 - 90 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000001 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000002 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000003 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000004 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000005 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000006 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000007 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.07~000999 - 41 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000001 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000002 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000003 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000004 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000005 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000006 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000007 - 25 cases
    • HHI_RACE.08~000999 - 25 cases

  4. Military pay grade- Round 2 and Round 3

    The roster variables that indicate military paygrade, YEMP_MILPAY.xx, have incorrect values in the round 2 and round 3 data. All zero values in those variables in rounds 2 and 3 should be recoded to -4's. These variables will be updated in the next data release.

  5. Created number of schools variables - Round 5 to Round 7

    A small programming error caused the following variables to be incorrect in the round 6 event history release: CV_SCH_ATTEND_EVER (14 cases in round 5, 22 cases in round 6, and 49 cases in round 7) and CV_SCH_ATTEND_YR (14 cases in round 5, 22 cases in round 6, and 49 cases in round 7). These values were corrected for the round 8 release.

  6. Created school size and student-teacher variables - Round 1 to Round 7

    A glitch in the program for the school size and student teacher ratio variables caused a large number of invalid skips to be assigned in prior rounds. The following corrections were made in the corresponding rounds:

    • Round 1:
      926 cases for both CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 2:
      1632 cases for CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and 1624 cases for CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 3:
      749 cases for both CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 4:
      602 cases for CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and 606 cases for CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 5:
      459 cases for CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and 460 cases for CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 6:
      340 cases for both CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO
    • Round 7:
      288 cases for both CV_SCHOOL_SIZE and CV_STUDENT_TEACHER_RATIO

  7. Created child status variable - Round 5 to Round 7

    Due to a change in the questionnaire categories for questions YFER-1850 and YFER-5900, it could no longer be determined whether a respondent's child was in foster care. As a result the created variable category - as well as the code assigned to certain respondents - for this question changed beginning in round 5. The variables and number of cases affected are the following:

    • Round 5:
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.01 - 1 case
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.02 - 1 case
    • Round 6:
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.01 - 32 cases
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.02 - 8 cases
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.03 - 1 case
    • Round 7:
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.01 - 52 cases
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.02 - 9 cases
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.03 - 4 cases
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.04 - 1 case
      CV_CHILD_STATUS.05 - 1 case

  8. Created fertility variables - Round 6 and Round 7

    A child was determined to have never existed for respondent #4627. As a result, the following created variables were updated to reflect this information:

    • Round 6:
      CV_BIO_CHILD_HH
      CV_BIO_CHILD_NR
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.01~M
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.01~Y
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_MONTH.01
    • Round 7:
      CV_BIO_CHILD_HH
      CV_BIO_CHILD_NR
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.01~M
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.01~Y
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_MONTH.01

    A child was determined to have never existed for respondent #6465. As a result, the following created variables were updated to reflect this information:

    • Round 7:
      CV_BIO_CHILD_HH
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_MONTH.02
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.02~M
      CV_CHILD_BIRTH_DATE.02~Y

  9. Created marriage variables - Round 4 to Round 7

    New data led to updated information on the marriages and cohabitations of 4 respondents. The affected variables and respondents are the following:

    • Respondents #2156 and #6039 in round 7:
      CV_FIRST_COHAB_DATE~M
      CV_FIRST_COHAB_DATE~Y
      CV_FIRST_COHAB_MONTH
    • Respondent #3970 in round 4, round 5, and round 6:
      CV_COHAB_TTL
    • Respondent #6269 in round 5, round 6, and round 7:
      CV_MARRIAGES_TTL

  10. Created highest grade completed variables - Round 3 to Round 6

    A small programming error was discovered in the program that computes the highest grade completed variables as of June [CV_HGC_YR]. Updates were made to this variable for the listed number of respondents in following rounds:

    • Round 3: 2 cases
    • Round 4: 5 cases
    • Round 5: 9 cases
    • Round 6: 2 cases