PDF《High School and Beyond (HS&B)》

and (3) take timed cognitive tests that measured verbal and quantitative abilities. The sophomore test battery included achievement measures in science, writing, and civics, while seniors were asked to respond to tests measuring abstract and nonverbal abilities. School Questionnaire. Completed by an official in the participating school, this questionnaire collected information about enrollment, staff, educational programs, facilities and services, dropout rates, and special programs for handicapped and disadvantaged students. Teacher Comment Checklist. At each grade level, teachers had the opportunity to answer questions about the traits and behaviors of sampled students who had been in their classes. The typical student in the sample was rated on average by four different teachers. Parent Questionnaire. A sample of parents provided information about family attitudes, family income, employment, occupation, salary, financial planning, and how these affect postsecondary education and goals. The results included responses from the parents of about 3,600 sophomores and 3,600 seniors. First Follow-up Survey. The first follow-up survey was conducted in spring 1982. As in the base-year survey, information was collected from students, school administrators, and parents. For the

1980 senior cohort, high school and postsecondary experiences were the main focus of the survey;

seniors were asked about their school and employment experiences, family status, and attitudes and plans. For the

1980 sophomore cohort, the survey gathered information on school, family, work experiences, educational and occupational aspirations, personal values, and test scores of sample participants. A high school transcript collection was also part of the first follow-up for sophomore cohort members. (See section on Record Studies for more detail.) Sophomores were classified by high school status as of

1982 (i.e., dropout, same school, transfer, or early graduate). Dropouts completed a Not Currently in High School Questionnaire, which included some questions from the regular Student Questionnaire but focused on their reasons for dropping out and its impact on their educational and career development. In addition to the regular Student Questionnaire, a Transfer Supplement was completed by members of the sophomore cohort who had transferred out of their base-year sample high school to another high school. This supplement gathered information on the reasons for transferring and for selecting a particular school, the length of the interruption in schooling and why it occurred, and particulars about the school itself (type, location, entrance requirements, size of student body, grades). Sophomore cohort members who graduated from high school ahead of schedule completed an Early Graduate Supplement in addition to the regular questionnaire. The Early Graduate Supplement documented the reasons for and circumstances of early graduation, the adjustments required to finish early, and respondents'

activities compared with those of other out-of-school survey members (i.e., dropouts,

1980 seniors). Second Follow-up Survey. This survey was conducted in spring 1984. For both the sophomore and senior cohorts, the survey collected data on the students'

work experience, postsecondary schooling, earnings, periods of unemployment, and so forth. For seniors, postsecondary transcripts and financial aid records were also collected. (See section on record studies for more detail.) Third Follow-up Survey. This survey was administered in spring 1986, using the same questionnaire for both the sophomore and senior cohorts. To maintain comparability with prior waves, many questions from earlier follow-up surveys were repeated. Respondents were asked to update background information and to provide information about their work experience, unemployment history, education and other training, family information (including marriage patterns), income, and other experiences and opinions. Financial aid records and postsecondary transcripts were collected for sophomores. (See section on Record Studies for more detail.) Fourth Follow-up Survey. This survey was administered in spring