High School and Beyond Fourth Follow-up Methodology Report

High School and Beyond Fourth Follow-up Methodology Report PDF

Author: Daniel Zahs

Publisher: Department of Education Office of Educational

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13:

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This report describes and evaluates the methods, procedures, techniques, and activities that produced the fourth (1992) follow-up of the High School and Beyond (HS&B) study. HS&B began in 1980 as the successor to the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. The original collection techniques of HS&B were replaced by computer assisted telephone interviews, and other electronic techniques replaced the original methods. HS&B data are more user-friendly and less resource-dependent as a results of these changes. There were 2 components to the fourth follow-up: (1) the respondent survey which was a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) based on 14,825 members of the 1980 sophomore cohort, and (2) a transcript study based on the 9,064 sophomore cohort members who reported postsecondary attendance. The response to the respondent survey was 85.3%. Response rate for the transcript study varied from 50.4% at private, for-profit institutions to 95.1% at public, four-year institutions. Technical innovations in this survey round included verification and correction of previously collected data through the CATI instrument, online coding applications, and statistical quality control. Survey data and information about the methodology are presented in 49 tables. An appendix contains the transcript request packages. (SLD)

America's High School Sophomores

America's High School Sophomores PDF

Author: Kenneth A. Rasinski

Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13:

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This study of high school sophomores in 1980 and 1990 compares the experiences of students in the two cohorts, identifying changes in in-school and out-of-school activities, academic achievement, self-concept, values, plans, and aspirations. Similarities and differences between the two groups are documented using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) and High School and Beyond (HS&B, 1980). HS&B and NELS:88 sophomores are marked by basic demographic differences, including the smaller size of the NELS:88 1990 cohort, reflecting the baby bust of the 1970s, and a higher proportion of racial minority and poverty status sophomores in 1990. NELS:88 sophomores also reflect the influence of various waves of school reform since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Overall, the comparison paints a pictures that is in most respects encouraging in its portrayal of the high school academic orientation and postsecondary expectations of the 1990 sophomore class. Positive changes, however, are typically small or moderate in magnitude. Among the findings are: (1) general and college preparatory program placement has increased, at the expense of vocational program placement; (2) patterns of extracurricular participation changed especially in musical activities (31% in 1980 to 22% in 1990) and in hobby clubs (21% in 1980 to 7% in 1990); (3) changes in sophomores giving high importance to particular life values (e.g., marriage and family 83% rating this as very important in 1980, 72% in 1990); (4) small but statistically significant increase in the number of females aspiring to traditionally male-dominated non-professional occupations (15.6% in 1980 versus 18.% in 1990). Sixteen tables and 13 figures present data from the 2 studies. Three appendixes contain information about the survey sample sizes, standard errors, and other methodological and technical information. Appendix A contains an additional 20 data tables. (Contains 46 references.) (SLD)