Outline Version of Figure 4. NLSY79 Young Adult Survey: Flowchart

  1. Begin YA Survey
    • Section 1 - Household Composition

      Universe: All
      Time: Varies by number of household members
      Contents: Information about the household

      Any other members in the Household?
      If no, go to Section 2
      If yes, collect: name, relationship, and age of each member. Then go to Section 2

    • Section 2 - Family Background

      Universe: All
      Time: Can be long if respondent has moved frequently or is a new Young Adult
      Contents: Migration: parental contact; characteristics of father, race and ethnicity; religion

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 3

    • Section 3 - Dating and Relationship History

      Universe: All
      Time: Can be long if respondent is married, cohabiting, or in a serious relationship
      Contents: Dating marriage/cohabitation history, spouse/partner occupation, quality of current relationships

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 4

    • Section 4 - Regular Schooling

      Universe: All
      Time: Shortest if respondent is not enrolled in school, medium if R respondent is in college, longest if respondent is in high school
      Contents: Enrollment status, highest grade attended/completed, dates of attendance, degrees received, details about school experiences and/or college applications and funding

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 5

    • Section 5 - Military

      Universe: Respondents over 16 years of age
      Time: Short
      Contents: Name of military branch, dates of entry and exit, jobs and training, satisfaction with military

      Is respondent over 16?
      If no, go to Section 7
      If yes, enter this section:

      1. Has respondent ever/since the last interview enlisted or been sworn into any branch of the Armed Forces?
        If no, go to Section 7
        If yes, answer questions in this section, then go to Section 7

    • Section 7 - Jobs/Employer Supplements

      Universe: All
      Time: Depends on number of jobs respondent has had since date of last interview
      Contents: Name, dates of employment and hours worked for each employer, additional details asked for jobs of greater duration, most detail asked about current/most recent employer

      Has respondent done any work for pay since date of last interview (other than military service)?
      If no, go to Section 9
      If yes, answer questions in this section, then go to Section 9

    • Section 9 - Last Job Lasting Two Weeks or More

      Universe: Respondents with no civilian or military jobs since date of last interview
      Time: Short
      Contents: Name of employer, date of employment, usual activities/duties

      Did respondent report no active military Service and no employers since DLI?
      If no, go to Section 10
      If yes, enter this section:

      1. Has respondent ever worked at a job for two consecutive weeks or more?
        If no, go to Section 11
        If yes, answer questions in this section, then go to Section 10

    • Section 10 - First Significant Job After Leaving High School

      Universe: First time Young Adults who dropped out of school before the last interview
      Time: Short
      Contents: Name of employer, date of employment, usual activities/duties, wages

      Is respondent a new YA who dropped out of school before DLI?
      If no, go to Section 11
      If yes, enter this section:

      1. Since leaving school, has respondent worked at a job for at least two months and at least 20 hours a week?
        If no, go to Section 11
        If yes, answer questions in this section, then go to Section 11

    • Section 11 - Other Training

      Universe: All
      Time: Short
      Contents: Type of most recent job training, details about training, professional certificates or licenses received

      Has respondent had any kind of training program or on-the-job training?
      If no, go to Section 11.i (certificate question)
      If yes, answer questions about most recent training, then go to Section 11.i (certificate question)

      1. Has respondent received a certificate for practicing a trade?
        If no, go to Section 12
        If yes, answer questions certificate, then go to Section 12

    • Section 12 - Fertility

      Universe: All
      Time: Short for respondents with no children, longest for female respondents with child(ren) born since DLI
      Contents: Verification of children born before DLI, new children (since DLI); birth, health, and residence of biological children; future childbirth plans

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 13

    • Section 13 - Children in the Household

      Universe: Respondents with children living in the household
      Time: Depends on number of children
      Contents: Parental interaction with children in the household, payment for/problems with childcare

      Are any of respondents biological/step/adopted children in the household?
      If no, go to Section 14
      If yes, answer questions in this section, then go to Section 14

    • Section 14 - Health

      Universe: All
      Time: Medium
      Contents: Asthma, health limitations, recent illnesses and accidents, menstruation, visits to healthcare professionals, height and weight, health insurance coverage

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 15

    • Section 15 - Income and Assets

      Universe: All
      Time: Shortest if respondent is single and financially dependent; longest if respondent is married and financially independent
      Contents: Respondents (and spouse/partner’s) income, child support, recipiency, home and auto ownership, debts, financial hardship

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Section 16

    • Section 16 - Attitudes

      Universe: All
      Time: Long
      Contents: Attitudes about: self-esteem, depression, mastery, and risk-taking

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Self Report Section

    • Self Report Section

      Universe: All
      Time: Varies, can be long
      Contents: Family relationships, substance use/abuse, computer usage, sex education, sexual experience, neighborhood quality, deviance, volunteer work, and future goals

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to Q17 - Locator

    • Q17 - Locator

      Universe: All
      Time: Medium
      Contents: Addresses and phone numbers of respondents’ contact people

      All respondents answer some questions in this section, then go to QIR - Interviewer Remarks

    • QIR - Interviewer Remarks

      Contents: Information about problems or confusion that came up during the interview

      Interviewers fill out this section for all Rs, then Exit YA Survey (end prompt)