Form NLSY26 NLS Listening Sessions Protocol 6 Think Tanks

NLSY26 Needs Assessment Listening Session (90 minutes)
Discussion Guide- Think tanks/research organizations/non-profits
Introduction — ~5 Mins
Welcome the group.
Let them know they’ve been invited to this session to provide feedback on a potential new NLSY26
cohort. Go over general ground rules below.
o Reminder: Session is being recorded
o Your participation in this survey is voluntary. We are collecting this information under OMB
Clearance Number 1225-0088. Without this currently approved number, we could not conduct
this information session.
o We are doing this as a series of 6 listening sessions. The first four sessions were topic focused,
and the last two (including this one) are user group focused.
o We expect this session will be about 90 minutes. We have a lot to get through so we will be
moving along at a quick pace.
o Additionally, we want to hear from everyone. If you notice that you haven’t spoken up in a while,
please do so. I may call on you to get your opinion.
o There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback so do not worry if we are not able to
get to everything you would like to discuss today. We will discuss those opportunities at the end
of the session.
Introduce the NLS— ~3 Mins
There are currently two active cohorts in the NLS program.
• The first cohort, the NLSY79, consists of about 10,000 men and women who were born in the
years 1957-64. They were ages 14-22 when first interviewed in 1979 and are still being
interviewed today.
o Children of NLSY79 respondents were interviewed starting in 1986. The NLSY79 Child
and Young Adult surveys contain extensive information about the biological children of
women in the NLSY79-including various child assessments.
•

The second cohort, the NLSY97, consists of nearly 9,000 men and women who were born in the
years 1980-1984. They were 12-16 when they were first interviewed in 1997.
o The NLSY97 contained a parent questionnaire in round one that gathered extensive
background information about parents, the child’s schooling, child health, expectations
for child’s future (youth also received these questions), parental employment, and the
family’s financial situation, among other topics.

•

There is a free public-use NLS dataset.

Why we’re collecting feedback— ~ 2 Mins
• A lot has changed in the survey world since the 1997 cohort was launched. We want to ensure
that the newest NLSY cohort is relevant to this community of think tanks/research organizations
and non-profits and informs policymaking.
• We are interested in hearing your perspective on how you currently use NLS data, what research
areas you’re reporting on, and what NLS can do to make the data more accessible to you.

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NLSY Usage— ~10 Mins
[Quick introductions for moderator, NORC facilitator, and participants only. Say name, organization,
and participants will also answer the question “What are the different ways your organization uses data,
and the different audiences and purposes you focus on?” Give participants ~2 minutes to answer as an
introduction to their organization and to help us understand how these types of organizations function.]
Usage of NLSY data
• Does your organization (or researchers at your organization) use NLSY data? How does
your organization use NLSY data?
• What could the NLS program do to better facilitate your organization’s use of NLSY
data? Are there barriers for your organization’s use of NLSY data?
NLSY26 Questionnaire Content— ~20 Mins
Content Questions
• Based on the research areas you’re reporting on, are there any new concepts that need
to be added to the new NLSY26 cohort? If so, what concepts?
• For those who are familiar with the previous NLS surveys, what content (if any) should
be kept the same for comparison to prior NLS cohorts? Why?
NLSY26 Dissemination— ~20 Mins
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Except for NLS press releases, NLS does not produce repeated annual tables. Would
producing a standard set of tables on an annual basis be useful to you or your organization?
If so, on what topics?
How can the NLS do a better job of marketing its data to organizations like yours? Can
you provide specific examples of how NLS could better educate organizations like yours
about the data (e.g., tweets, newsletters, or email announcements)?
How can the NLS build relationships with organizations like yours to create conduits for
communication? Examples could include an annual conference, round table discussions,
online seminars, or one-on-one conversations.
If you have used NLS microdata, do you have any suggestions for potential improvements
to the way that NLS provides microdata?

NLSY26 Sampling and Methodology— ~20 Mins
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•
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Are there oversamples that are needed?
Can you suggest administrative data sources that BLS should consider linking to the
NLSY26?
Any other methodological concerns or new advances that the NLSY26 should be
considering?

Note: This topic may arise in the discussion of content or methodology. In that case, there’s no need to
raise it separately.
NLSY26 Final thoughts or concerns— ~5 Mins
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Are there any final questions or concerns regarding the new NLSY26 cohort?

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Close out
MODERATOR:
• Conclusion and thanks
• Provide other info on other feedback resources (FRN, user survey, informational materials, email,
etc.)
• As we mentioned previously, this is part of a series of six listening sessions. The other session
topics include Employment, Jobs, and the Future of Work; Childhood and Family Retrospective;
Health, Environment, and Climate; Mental Health; and Innovations in International Surveys. If
you have feedback on other aspects of the NLSY that we did not have time to cover in this
session, we will be posting a user survey soon that you can submit responses too. We will also
send you a thank you email which will have an opportunity for you to provide additional
feedback.