NELS:88 Survey Item Evaluation Report

This report is designed for researchers who may use the NELS:88 data to study the longitudinal progress of eighth graders through their next four years. Its purpose is to convey information about the measurement characteristics of the survey items in the base year and first and second follow-ups—in particular, about the nature of nonresponse and about convergence of information from alternative sources. The analysis of measurement characteristics is necessary because substantive research depends on the ability to generalize from responses to items on a paper-and-pencil form to tests of models and theories about how schools work and students learn. Percentages of responses depend on both the state of the individual (the so-called “true value”) and the processes by which the individual interprets the item wording and decides which of several responses to make. All of the items in NELS:88 are multiple choice (bubble-coded) items, and the wording of both the question and the response alternatives affects the response generation process.

Online Availability

• Browse the Highlights of the report.
• Download, view, and print the report in a pdf file.