This Data File Documentation reports on the procedures and methodologies employed in the Transcript Component of First Follow-up to the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). The document is designed to provide guidance for users of the transcript data as released in Electronic Codebook (ECB) format (NCES 2006-351). Included in the documentation are the following: an overview of the transcript data collection and other components of ELS:2002, description of the transcript sample and how the transcripts were collected, the methods employed in coding and classifying the transcripts, description of the transcript weights and guidance on their use, non-response bias analysis results; estimates of the complex sample design effects, and an overview of data file structure and contents. In addition, there are a number of appendices that provide detailed technical information about topics including how to make cross-cohort comparisons; descriptions of the student, course, school, and course offerings data files; and the course classification scheme employed.
