Appendix A

Differences Between the Fall 1994 NELS:88 BY-F2 ECB/CD-ROM and the December 1993 NELS:88 Y-F2 Interim ECB/CD-ROM

With the release of this fall 1994 NELS:88 BY-F2 ECB/CD-ROM, four NELS:88 CDs have been produced (and released):

• the spring 1993 NELS:88 BY-F1 ECB/CD-ROM,
• the NELS:88 BY-F2 Interim ECB/CD-ROM (released December of 1993),
• the fall 1994 NELS:88 BY-F2 ECB/CD-ROM--public version, and
• the fall 1994 NELS:88 BY-F2 ECB/CD-ROM--restricted version.

This section describes the differences between the NELS:88 BY-F2 Interim CD-ROM and the two versions--public and restricted--of the fall 1994 NELS:88 BY-F2 ECB/CD-ROM.

The fall 1994 NELS:88 ECB/CD-ROM has changed considerably from the Interim ECB/CD-ROM, both in terms of content and operation. Operationally, users who have worked with the BY-F1 ECB and/or the Interim ECB will find a slightly different look and feel to the fall 1994 ECB. Though the fall 1994 ECB performs the same basic functions (e.g., generate SAS and SPSS code) as the earlier ECBs, function keys have changed, the search feature has become more powerful, and the display of the variables list, questionnaire text and frequency distributions has become more streamlined. Indeed, these changes are highlighted and discussed below under the subject headings of Content Differences and Operational Differences.

Content Differences

1. Two Versions of the fall 1994 ECB/CD-ROM.
   There are two versions of the fall 1994 ECB/CD-ROM. The restricted-use version is issued to licensed users only because it contains 153 additional variables of a sensitive nature. In the public-use version, the sensitive variables have been recoded or suppressed. In addition, the public-use version includes only spring-term (not fall-term) sample members. The two versions of the fall 1994 ECB/CD-ROM are similar in every other respect.
2. Additional Data Files.
   Both the restricted and public fall 1994 ECB/CD-ROM versions contain 15 raw data representing NELS:88 base year, first follow-up and second follow-up component surveys (except the transcript survey component which will be made available to users on the next CD schedule for release in late fall of 1994). The first ECB, issued in the spring of 1993, contained only data files from base year and first follow-up surveys. The next edition, issued in December of 1993, added the student and dropout components of the second follow-up study. The fall 1994 editions add the second follow-up parent, school and teacher survey data files.
3. Additional/Modified Variables.
   The new versions both contain rescaled cognitive test data for all three rounds and additional composite variables not previously available. There are sufficient second follow-up student composites to require a separate file to accommodate these variables. In the first follow-up and second follow-up dropout files, the 'last school attended' before a student dropped out is identified if the school is a NELS:88 school.
4. Case Additions and Deletions.
   Both versions include updates to the base year and first follow-up files, including the addition of Base Year Ineligibles (BYIs)--who were found to be eligible for NELS:88 during the first follow-up--to the first follow-up student and dropout data files. Similarly, the records of sample members who appeared on the originally-released first follow-up files, but were subsequently found to be ineligible for survey participation in the first follow-up have been removed from the first follow-up student and dropout files included on the fall 1994 NELS:88 CD. The net changes and correct sample sizes for the first follow-up student and dropout data files are reflected in tables that appear later in this chapter. First follow-up codebooks, whether hardcopy or ECB formats, that were part of older releases will not reflect the same number of cases as codebooks produced for (or from) the newly-released data files.
5. Updated Composites and Variables.
   As new information was discovered in subsequent follow-ups, certain variables from earlier rounds have been updated. Here too, the old codebooks are no longer the authoritative source. Updated frequencies for all variables can be found in this release of the NELS:88 public and privileged ECBs.

Operational Differences

1. Enhanced Frequency and Questionnaire Text Windows.
   This ECB displays weighted frequencies and percents as well as unweighted distributions. Windows contain information on each variable including descriptive labels, valid and missing codes or ranges (for continuous variables).
   Additional descriptive material for each variable includes the original questionnaire item wording and, as needed, comments or footnotes to further inform users about the structure of each data element. These notes advise users on the possibility of high item non-response, data recodes or suppressions in the public-use version (to protect sensitive information), explanations of how the variable was constructed or refer users to related variables in the database. We urge users to read these notes.
2. SPSS for Windows.
   This edition of the NELS:88 ECB can write program code for the Windows version of SPSS (as well as SAS-PC and SPSS-PC+).
3. Enhanced HELP Feature.
   On-line, hypertext HELP that is context-sensitive is available in this version of the ECB software.
4. Enhanced Installation.
   The software includes full installation to adapt to different storage locations (installation is described in the next chapter of this manual).
5. Elimination of Autotag Feature.
   The function that permitted users to automatically select a preidentified set of key variables ("AUTOTAG") is not available in this edition of the ECB -- indeed, the number of central variables from all files has grown to an unwieldy number.
6. Addition of EXTRACT.EXC Program.
   Finally, however, there is a new program that permits users to extract data by means of ECB output files without using SPSS or SAS. "EXTRACT" is an alternative to the subsetting features of the PC versions of statistical software.

Appendix B
Summary of NELS:88 Analytical Populations

There are eight distinct analytic samples in the NELS:88 database (BY through Second Follow-up). Table I summarizes these samples and the population that is represented by each one. Table I is an essential tool for choosing the sample on which to test your research questions -- choice of the correct sample will vary with the nature of your investigation (cross-sectional v. longitudinal, for example). The table also gives the correct sample selection flag(s) and the associated statistical weight to use with each student group. You must tag these special variables in the ECB session in order to properly define your sample of interest.

---

Table I: Summary of NELS:88 populations, samples, level of analyses, sample identification flags, and weights

---

Population of Interest	Sample and Sample N (Participants)	Level of Analysis	Sample ID Flag	Weight
1988 8th Graders in 1990 (Panel): The population of 1988 eighth graders two years later (as of 1990).	Base year retained sample members who completed both a base year and first follow-up questionnaire.N=17,424. Note: undercoverage bias; 5% of potential base year sample excluded.	Cross-wave, longitudinal level of analysis.	Use the first follow-up student data file and select for the 8th to 10th grade panel, F1PANFLG=1.	Use the panel weight (F1PNLWT).
1988 8th Grade Cross-Section: The population of all students enrolled in the eighth grade in 1988. Sample and Sample N (Participants)	Base year selected sample members who participated in the base year. N=24,599. Note: undercoverage bias; 5% of potential base year sample excluded.	Cross-sectional level of analysis.	Use the base year student data file and select for BYQFLG=1.	Use the base year questionnaire weight (BYQWT).
1990 10th Grade Cross-Section: The Population of all students enrolled in the tenth grade in 1990.	Representative sample of students enrolled in tenth grade in the spring term of 1990. Includes freshened students and excludes dropouts and out-of-sequence sample members. N=17,544 on the original F1 release. On the F2 re-release, BYI's who completed a F1 questionnaire appear producing a new N=17,754.	Cross-sectional analysis; Trend analyses with HS&B; 1980 sophomores and F1 1990 sophomores.Sample ID Flag	Use the first follow-up student file and select for F1SEQFLG=0.	Use the first follow-up questionnaire weight (F1QWT).
1990 (First Follow-Up) Cross-Section: The population of all first follow-up eligible persons who were either in the eighth grade during the 1987- 1988 school year or were in the tenth grade during the 1989- 1990 school year.	1990 sample members; combines 1988- eligible eighth- grade cohort and 1990 tenth-grade freshened sample. N=19,264. On the F2 re-release, BYI's who completed a F1 questionnaire appear producing a new N=19,394.Level of Analysis		Use the first follow-up student file and select for F1STAT=0.Weight	Use the first follow-up questionnaireweight (F1QWT).
1988 8th Graders in 1992 (Panel): The population of 1988 eighth graders four years later (as of 1992).	Base year retainedsample members who completed a questionnaire in all three waves of NELS:88--base year,first follow-up, and second follow-up. N=16,489. Note: undercoverage bias; 5% of potential base year sample excluded.	Cross wave,longitudinal levelof analysis.	Select forF2PNLFLG=1.
1990 10th Graders in 1992 (Panel): The population of 1990 sophomores two years later (as of 1992).	Representative sample of students enrolled in tenth grade in the spring of 1990 (see definition of tenth grade cross-section above) who completed a questionnaire in both the first follow-up and second follow-up. N=16,749.	Cross wave, longitudinal level of analysis;longitudinal trend analyses withHS&B; 1980 sophomore cohort and F1 1990 sophomore cohort.	Select forF2F1PNFL=2.	Use the second follow-up panel weight (F2F1PNWT).
1992 12th Grade Cross- Section: The population of all students enrolled in twelfth grade in 1992.	Representative sample of students enrolled in twelfth grade in the spring of 1992. N=16,114. Includes freshened students and excludes dropouts and out-of- sequence sample members.	Cross sectional analysis; Trend analyses with NLS 1972 seniors,HS&B; 1980 seniors, and NELS:88 1992 seniors.	Select for F2SEQFLG=0.	Use the second follow-up questionnaire weight (F2QWT).
1992 (Second Follow-Up) Cross-Section: The population of all second follow-up eligible persons who were in eighth grade during the spring of 1988 or in tenth grade during the spring of 1990 or in twelfth grade during the spring of 1992.	All second follow-up 1992 sample members; combines 1988-eligible eighth-grade cohort and 1990-eligible tenth grade cohort and 1992 twelfth-grade freshened sample. N=19,220.		Select for F2STAT=00.	Use the second follow-up questionnaire weight (F2QWT). Note: For information on how to use school, parent and transcript data--and respective weights--with student data, consult the separate data file user's manuals for each of these components.

 

Appendix C
EXTRACTING RAW DATA THROUGH EXTRACT.EXE

EXTRACT.EXE is a program that allows users to subset variables and cases from data files on the compact disk. It is stored in \ECB\ on the CD. EXTRACT operates on the codebook text file (NELCB.TXT, by default). It begins with the variables that have been selected for the codebook file during an ECB session and extracts these from the data files on the CD, writing them out to a separate ASCII data file. Optional filtering of cases that meet specified conditions is possible from a single data file (the syntax for filter logic is explained below). The subset of variables is written to an ASCII file on the user's hard disk.

At the MS-DOS prompt on your PC, enter EXTRACT and the program describes its operation.

Use. The EXTRACT command takes the form:

where the Required Parameters are:

and where the [Optional Parameters] are:

This statement instructs the computer to select all cases in which the respondent is a member of the eighth grade cohort (value of F2SMPFLG="0") and is in the highest socioeconomic status quartile (value of F2SES1Q= "4").

Please note that filter logic (the %5 specification) may NOT be used for extracts from multiple data files (such as the 15 NELS:88 datasets) on %1 (the CD). If and only if there is NO filter logic (i.e., %5 is not used), then variables may be extracted from multiple modules.

Operation. Login to the DOS directory that houses the %2 file (on your local drive, see example below) and enter as follows:

Example:

Given the instructions in the example above, the computer will:

• read the codebook file that is specified in %2;
• reference files stored on the CD drive specified in %1;
• build an ASCII extract file named %3 on the user's hard disk (after applying the filter logic involving Grade Cohort and Socioeconomic Status as specified in %5) with logical record length = 1024;
• create a new file with the name %2.NEW to describe the extract file.

APPENDIX D
EXAMPLES OF OUTPUT FROM THE NELS:88 ECB

• BYS45 from Base Year Student File
• F2S15BK F2QWT F2PNLWT F2SEX F22XMPRO from 2nd Follow-up Student File
• F1D6M from 1st Follow-up Dropout File
• BYSC50AH from 1st Follow-up School File
• BYP6 from Base Year Parent File
• F2T1_7 from 2nd Follow-up Teacher File

• Example D1 -- Tag List
• Example D2 -- SAS/PC Code
• Example D3 -- SPSS/PC+ Code
• Example D4 -- SPSS for Windows Code
• Example D5 -- Codebook Text for 10 variables

APPENDIX D1
TAG LIST

***** You WILL need to edit this code *******

DATA X1;INFILE 'S:\DATA\BYST.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 BYS45 157-158;

LABEL BYS45='HOW FAR IN SCH DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET' ;

PROC FORMAT; VALUE BYS45F

DATA X3; INFILE 'S:\DATA\F2ST1.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 F2S15BK 92-92;

LABEL F2S15BK='CONDUCT OWN EXPERIMENTS IN SCIENCE' ;

PROC FORMAT; VALUE F2S15BKF

DATA X4;INFILE 'S:\DATA\F2ST2.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 F2QWT 8-17 .4 F2PNLWT 18-27 .4 F2SEX 118-118 F22XMPRO 226-226;

LABEL

PROC FORMAT;

DATA X5;INFILE 'S:\DATA\F1DO.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 F1D6M 21-21;

LABEL F1D6M='MY FRIENDS HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL' ;

PROC FORMAT; VALUE F1D6MF

DATA X7;INFILE 'S:\DATA\BYSC.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD; INPUT ID 1-7 BYSC50AH 293-293;

LABEL BYSC50AH='ACTION FOR SMOKING: 1ST OCCURRENCE' ;

PROC FORMAT; VALUE BYSC50AF

DATA X11;INFILE 'S:\DATA\BYPA.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 BYP6 25-26;

LABEL BYP6='NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO DROPPED OUT OF HS' ;

PROC FORMAT;

DATA X15; INFILE 'S:\DATA\F2TE.PUB' LRECL=1024 PAD;INPUT ID 1-7 F2T1_7 28-28;

LABEL F2T1_7='PARENTS^ LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT' ;

PROC FORMAT; VALUE F2T1_7F

DATA NEL.EXTRACT;MERGE X1 X3 X4 X5 X7 X11 X15 ;BY ID; PROC FREQ;

FORMAT BYS45 BYS45F.
F2S15BK F2S15BKF. F2QWT F2QWTF.
F2PNLWT F2PNLWTF.
F2SEX F2SEXF.
F22XMPRO F22XMPRF.
F1D6M F1D6MF.
BYSC50AH BYSC50AF.
BYP6 BYP6F.
F2T1_7 F2T1_7F. ;

TABLES BYS45 F2S15BK F2SEX F22XMPRO F1D6M BYSC50AH BYP6 F2T1_7 ;

PROC UNIVARIATE; VAR F2QWT F2PNLWT ; RUN;

SET Compress=On.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\BYST.PUB' / ID 1-7 BYS45 157-158

Variable Labels BYS45 'HOW FAR IN SCH DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET'

Value Labels / BYS45

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X1' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= BYS45

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F2ST1.PUB' / ID 1-7 F2S15BK 92-92

Variable Labels F2S15BK 'CONDUCT OWN EXPERIMENTS IN SCIENCE'

Value Labels / F2S15BK

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X3' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= F2S15BK .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE= 'S:\DATA\F2ST2.PUB' / ID 1-7
F2QWT 8-17 (4) F2PNLWT 18-27 (4) F2SEX 118-118 F22XMPRO 226-226

Variable Labels

Value Labels / F22XMPRO

Frequencies Variables= F2SEX F22XMPRO .

Descriptives Variables= F2QWT F2PNLWT /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F1DO.PUB' / ID 1-7 F1D6M 21-21

Variable Labels F1D6M 'MY FRIENDS HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL'

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X5' /Compressed. Frequencies Variables= F1D6M

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE= 'S:\DATA\BYSC.PUB' / ID 1-7 BYSC50AH 293-293

Variable Labels BYSC50AH 'ACTION FOR SMOKING: 1ST OCCURRENCE'

Value Labels /BYSC50AH

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X7' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= BYSC50AH .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\BYPA.PUB' / ID 1-7

Variable Labels BYP6

Value Labels / BYP6 00

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X11' /Compressed. Frequencies Variables= BYP6

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F2TE.PUB' / ID 1-7 F2T1_7 28-28

Variable Labels

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X15' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= F2T1_7 .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=13.

JOIN MATCH

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\XTRACT' /Compressed.

FINISH.

Variable Labels BYS45

Value Labels / BYS45

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X1' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= BYS45 .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F2ST1.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7 F2S15BK 92-92

Variable Labels F2S15BK 'CONDUCT OWN EXPERIMENTS IN SCIENCE'

Value Labels / F2S15BK

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X3' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= F2S15BK .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F2ST2.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7

Variable Labels

Value Labels / F22XMPRO

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X4' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables=

Descriptives Variables= F2QWT F2PNLWT /STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F1DO.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7 F1D6M 21-21

Variable Labels F1D6M 'MY FRIENDS HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL'

Value Labels / F1D6M

SAVE OUTFILE= 'C:\PUB5SEPT\X5' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= F1D6M .

Descriptives Variables=/STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\BYSC.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7 BYSC50AH 293-293

Variable Labels BYSC50AH 'ACTION FOR SMOKING: 1ST OCCURRENCE'

Value Labels / BYSC50AH

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X7' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= BYSC50AH .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\BYPA.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7 BYP6 25-26

Variable Labels BYP6 'NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO DROPPED OUT OF HS'

Value Labels / BYP6 00 'NONE'

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X11' /Compressed.

FrequenciesVariables= BYP6 .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=DEF.

DATA LIST FILE='S:\DATA\F2TE.PUB' FIXED RECORDS=1 / ID 1-7 F2T1_7 28-28

Variable Labels F2T1_7 'PARENTS^ LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT'

Value Labels / F2T1_7

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\X15' /Compressed.

Frequencies Variables= F2T1_7 .

Descriptives Variables= /STATS=DEF. MATCH FILES

SAVE OUTFILE='C:\PUB5SEPT\XTRACT' /Compressed.

Section: BY STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
PART 5 - YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
45. As things stand now, how far in school do you think you will get? (MARK ONE)

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

% % % % % % % % BYQWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1185]: F2S15BK CONDUCT OWN EXPERIMENTS IN SCIENCE
Module[ 3]: DATA\F2ST1.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 92-92

Section: F2 STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
15B. IF YOU ARE TAKING OR MOST RECENTLY TOOK TWO SCIENCE CLASSES AT THE SAME TIME, CHOOSE ONE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS 15B THROUGH 17 CONSISTENTLY FOR ONLY THAT ONE CLASS.

In your current or most recent SCIENCE class, how often do/did you ...

• F2S15BA Review the work from the previous day?
• F2S15BB Listen to the teacher lecture?
• F2S15BC Copy the teacher's notes from the blackboard?
• F2S15BD Use calculators?
• F2S15BE Watch the teacher demonstrate an experiment or lead you in observations?
• F2S15BF Do an experiment or observation individually or in small groups?
• F2S15BG Use a book or other written instructions that show you how to do an experiment?
• F2S15BH Write up reports on experiments or observations?
• F2S15BI Use computers for collecting and/or analyzing data?
• F2S15BJ Make your own choice of science topic or problem to study?
• F2S15BK Design and conduct experiments or projects on your own?
• F2S15BL Discuss career opportunities in scientific & technological fields?

% % % % % % % % F2QWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1668]: F2QWT F2 QUESTIONNAIRE WEIGHT
Module[ 4]: DATA\F2ST2.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 8-17 4

Section: F2 STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Use for producing weighted twelfth grade student statistics in cross-sectional analyses.

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label
{cont} 19220 90.7 {2.1390-6670.0859}
000000.00 1968 9.3 {MISSING}

% % % % % % % % {NO WT.} % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label
{blank} 0 0.0 {NO WEIGHT}

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1669]: F2PNLWT F2 8TH GRADE PANEL WEIGHT
Module[ 4]: DATA\F2ST2.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 18-27 4

Section: F2 STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Use for producing weighted student panel statistics when all three survey waves (base year, first follow-up and second follow-up) data are included in the analyses.

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label
{cont} 16489 77.8 {2.3914-7388.1333} 000000.00 4699 22.2 {MISSING}

% % % % % % % % {NO WT.} % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label
{blank} 0 0.0 {NO WEIGHT}

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1707]: F2SEX COMPOSITE SEX
Module[ 4]: DATA\F2ST2.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 118-118

Section: F2 STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The most complete indicator of sample members' gender, this variable is based on the first follow-up (F1SEX) composite and augmented by second follow-up New Student Supplement information or, if still missing, imputation from student first names.

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

% % % % % % % % F2QWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1752]: F22XMPRO OVERALL MATH PROFICIENCY
Module[ 4]: DATA\F2ST2.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 226-226

Section: F2 STUDENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Proficiency calculations use a refinement of the student weight (F2QWT) that adjusts for the fact that not all students who completed the second follow-up questionnaire completed the cognitive tests.

NOTE: This test score has been rescaled, and replaces versions previously released. For more information, consult Appendix H of the Second Follow-Up: Student Component Data File User's Manual.

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

% % % % % % % % F2QWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 1905]: F1D6M MY FRIENDS HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL
Module[ 5]: DATA\F1DO.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 21-21

Section: F1 DROPOUT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
6. Here are some reasons other people have given for leaving school. Which of these would you say applied to you?

• F1D6H I became the father/mother of a baby.
• F1D6I I had to support my family.
• F1D6J I was suspended too often.
• F1D6K I did not feel safe at school.
• F1D6L I wanted to travel.
• F1D6M My friends had dropped out of school.
• F1D6N I had to care for a member of my family.
• F1D6O I was expelled from school.
• F1D6P I felt I didn't belong at school.
• F1D6Q I couldn't keep up with my schoolwork.
• F1D6R I was failing school.
• F1D6S I got married or planned to get married.
• F1D6T I changed schools and didn't like my new school.
• F1D6U I couldn't work and go to school at the same time.

% % % % % % % % F1QWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 3209]: BYSC50AH ACTION FOR SMOKING: 1ST OCCURRENCE
Module[ 7]: DATA\BYSC.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 293-293

Section: BY SCHOOL PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
50. In your school what happens to a student who is caught doing one of the following? (Expulsion means the student is asked to permanently withdraw; suspension means the student is asked to leave for a period of time, but is permitted to come back to the school.) (CIRCLE ONE EACH)

FIRST OCCURRENCE

• BYSC50AA Cheating
• BYSC50AB Physical injury to another student
• BYSC50AC Possession of alcohol
• BYSC50AD Possession of illegal drugs
• BYSC50AE Possession of weapons
• BYSC50AF Use at school of alcohol
• BYSC50AG Use at school of illegal drugs
• BYSC50AH Smoking at school
• BYSC50AI Verbal abuse of teacher or staff member
• BYSC50AJ Physical injury to a teacher or staff member
• BYSC50AK Theft of school property
• BYSC50AL Classroom disturbance
• BYSC50AM Use of profanity

• BYSC50BA Cheating
• BYSC50BB Physical injury to another student
• BYSC50BC Possession of alcohol
• BYSC50BD Possession of illegal drugs
• BYSC50BE Possession of weapons
• BYSC50BF Use at school of alcohol
• BYSC50BG Use at school of illegal drugs
• BYSC50BH Smoking at school
• BYSC50BI Verbal abuse of teacher or staff member
• BYSC50BJ Physical injury to a teacher or staff member
• BYSC50BK Theft of school property
• BYSC50BL Classroom disturbance
• BYSC50BM Use of profanity

% % % % % % % % BYQWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

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Variable[ 4470]: BYP6 NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO DROPPED OUT OF HS
Module[11]: DATA\BYPA.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 25-26

Section: BY PARENT PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
6. How many of the children referred to in Question 4 dropped out of school before graduating from high school? (MARK ONE)

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

% % % % % % % % BYQWT % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Variable[ 5928]: F2T1_7 PARENTS^ LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT
Module[15]: DATA\F2TE.PUB Position: # 1/ 1 28-28

Section: F2 TEACHER PUB
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
1_7. How involved are the parents of this student in his/her academic performance?

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label

% % % % % % % % {NO WT.} % % % % % % % % % % %
Code Freq Percent Label
{blank} 0 0.0 {NO WEIGHT}

Menu

Activated by M, ALT-M, or F10.

Presents all options displayed on banner bar:

• Description
• Frequencies Unwt_% and Wt_%
• Tag
• Clear
• List
• Search
• INstall
• Output
• EXit

Description

Activated by D, ALT-D, <-- (left arrow key), or from Menu.

Displays item wording/variable description window. Within the description window, you may activate Frequencies, Tag the variable, or EXit.

Frequencies

Unweighted activated by U, ALT-U, Ins, or from Menu. Weighted activated by W, ALT-W, or from Menu.

Displays values, labels and frequencies window. Within the frequency window, you may activate Description, Tag, or EXit. In addition you may switch between the unweighted and weighted frequency windows.

The variable used to weight the displayed cases is shown in the top left corner of the weighted frequency window.

Tag

Activated by T, ALT-T, --> (right arrow key), or from Menu.

Selects the highlighted variable for inclusion in the extract file. Only tagged variables will be included in Output.

If a variable is tagged, then the TAG command will untag it (see also Clear).

All tagged variables are displayed in List.

Clear

Activated by C, ALT-C, or from Menu.

Removes ALL existing Tags for ALL variables. (All tagged variables may be displayed with the List command).

List

Activated from Menu, or toggled by L and ALT-L.

Displays ALL variables that have Tags.

Search

Search options activated by S, ALT-S, F2, or from Menu. CTRL-L will search for the next occurrence of a previously keyed text string from the Variable List.

Searches begin with the variable below the highlighted variable (they are forward searches). The text string must be 2 or more characters.

Successful searches end by changing the highlighted variable to the variable matching the text string.

Searches ALWAYS include the variable name (8 character SAS or SPSS name displayed in the 1st column on the main screen).

Search options include:

• Find next
• Search String
• Labels search toggle
• Description search toggle
• Import
• Tag matches
• Find tag

Tag matches

Tags all variables that match the search string.

Activated from the Search menu.

Find tag

Finds the next tag on the variable list.

Activated from the Search menu.

Import

Tags all variables whose numbers are listed in a text file.

The default list of tags is stored in \ECB\DEFAULT.TAG on the CD.

Activated from the Search menu.

Find next

Activated from the Search options menu.

Finds the next occurrence of the Search string.

Search String

Activated from the Search options menu.

Text string of 2 or more characters. Initially null.

Labels search toggle

Activated from the Search options menu.

If ON, variable labels (2nd column on main screen) will be searched.

Description Search toggle

Activated from the Search options menu.

If ON, all the text that appears in Description windows will be searched.

Install menu

Activated by I, ALT-N, and from Menu.

Installs CD and storage information, and toggles warning beep.

Default drive & path are for storage of ECB software. That is, the ECB executables and the help files. These files are copied from the CD.

SPSS/SAS/Extract files drive and path code are for program code storage (see Output).

Compact disk drive is the letter used to identify the CD reader.

The Warning BEEP for errors is ON or OFF. When ON, errant keystrokes and other errors cause the PC to sound a beep. This sound may be toggled OFF.

When the HELP toggle is ON, errant keystrokes result in HELP screens.

When OFF, HELP is provided by F1 only.

Output

Activated by O ('oh'), ALT-O, and from Menu.

Selections included fully-labeled SAS-PC and SPSS-PC, as well as ASCII output for tagged variables. To subset observations, users may insert IF--THEN DELETE lines in SAS-PC and SELECT IF(__). lines in SPSS-PC files. For ASCII output, filters with limited subgroup selection capability are available.

The Codebook text file, displays ALL information about each tagged variable. The EXTRACT program uses the codebook text file to subset variables (and optionally cases).

Exit ECB Software

Activated by E, X, Escape, and from Menu.

Terminates ECB software operations.

In menu windows, only Escape closes the window.

Help

Help is available for the following:

• Menu
• Description
• Frequencies for weighted & unweighted Unwt_% & Wt_%
• Tag
• Clear
• List
• Search
• INstall
• Output
• EXit

The short description at the bottom of the list changes depending upon the fully highlighted item.

For other help, see Help.

String Input

Key in the characters for the string requested.

Pressing the ESCAPE key once will clear the current string. Pressing the ESCAPE key twice will return NO STRING. The backspace key works to delete letters one at a time.

Function keys and key sequences (e.g., ALT-L) are assumed to be errors within the String Input windows.

For other help, see Help.

Variable List

Scroll among variables using

• UP ARROW
  Scrolls up one line

  DOWN ARROW

  Scrolls down one line

  PgUp

  Moves to top of screen and up one full screen

  PgDn

  Moves to bottom of screen and down one full screen

  Home

  Moves to first variable in current section and to top of prior section

  End

  Moves to last variable in current section and to bottom of next section

  CTRL-PgUp

  Moves to first variable in list

  CTRL-PgDn

  Moves to last variable in list

Hot keys for menu items are described in other help screens, see Help.

APPENDIX F
TROUBLE SHOOTING

Q: Do I have to install the ECB system on drive C:?

A: You may install the system on any drive (local or network) which has the necessary free space. This may be a local hard drive known to your PC system as C:, D:, or E:. Network drives can also be used (you must have the authorization to create files o n the drive to which you intend to install the system; network users may access some drives to read files but do not have the necessary authorization or 'rights' to create files) and these might be known to your PC system by G:, L:, or some other letter.

Q: I forgot to check my disk space and the installation procedure gave me messages about not enough disk space. What should I do?

A: First, go to the \ECB subdirectory on the target drive, do a DIR command at the DOS prompt to determine if any control files were copied (see Table 2.1 above). Delete these files using the DOS DEL command. This step will make it easier to determine j ust how much free disk space is available by using the DIR or the CHKDSK command. More disk space can be made available in several ways. Infrequently used files may be 'compressed' with one of the many commercially available file compression software pr ograms. Or such files might be copied to floppies and then deleted. Finally, files that are no longer needed might be deleted outright. Once the necessary disk space is available, rerun the installation procedure.

Q: Everything seems to be taking a much longer time to run than seems reasonable. What can I do to speed things up?

Suggestions for reading raw data from CD-ROM more efficiently:

Run a Memory Manager. If your machine contains more than 1 megabyte of main memory, it helps to run a memory manager (either a commercially available type such as QEMM or the one which came with your machine). Many software application programs (such as SPSS and SAS) make better use of available memory if it is 'managed' by one of these programs.

'Clean' Boot of Your Machine. Some software applications run what are called "Terminate and Stay Resident" (TSRs) programs all of the time. These TSRs consume memory in your machine. If at all possible, remove these programs before running the ECB ( or re-boot without them running in your machine). This will maximize the memory available for reading the data from the CD-ROM.

NOTES SPECIFIC TO RUNNING SAS:

Run SAS in 'Batch' Mode. SAS can be run 'interactively' by typing "SAS" at the command prompt, then permitting the display manager to present the output window, the log window, and the program window. However, when processing large data files, it is more efficient to run SAS in 'batch' mode. Type "SAS", followed by the file name of the SAS code you wish to run (e.g., C> SAS MYCODE.SAS). SAS then reads a configuration file (called "CONFIG.SAS") either from your current directory or from the director y in which SAS is installed. This file contains an instruction on whether or not the display manager is to be used. When running SAS in 'batch' mode, this parameter should be: "-nodms" (the default setting in the supplied CONFIG.SAS file is: "-dms"). Setting this parameter as described here and running SAS in the batch mode will increase the efficiency of SAS when processing large data files.

Other CONFIG.SAS File Parameters. Other parameters in the CONFIG.SAS file may be added or modified to increase efficiency as well. When running a memory manager, SAS will make use of additional available memory by including the parameter "-ems all". When reading files which have very long record lengths it is useful to change the -filebuffer parameter from the default (e.g., -filebuffer 5 512) to -filebuffer 2 1024 which allows for fewer open files with longer record lengths.

SAS Default Variable Length. A default variable length of 4 is used in writing the SAS control cards from the NELS:88 ECB system. Variables with a length greater than 4 are written out with specific length s tatements so that numeric accuracy is not lost for these variables. Changing the default length to 3 will save disk space by writing a smaller system file. However, accuracy could be compromised for variables of length 4 unless specific length statement are included in the SAS cards for these variables. The length of a variable can be determined from the SAS cards which are written.

Michelle Harvey, Library Assistant, Documents Center
The University of Michigan Library
CIC CD-ROM Technical Documentation Project

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/cicdoc/nels88/nels88d.htm