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Survey Content
Survey Versions
Changes from 2004 to 2006
Changes from 2006 to 2008
Survey Item Sources
Survey Content
The questionnaire includes items about the following topics:
- General information and demographics
- Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
- Other health concerns (nutrition and fitness, health conditions and health care, safety, behaviors related to intentional/unintentional injuries, depression)
- School climate
- Quality of life
- Risk and protective factors (community, school, peer and individual, family)
The survey does not include questions about sexual behavior.
Certain sensitive questions are included on a perforated page
that schools can remove prior to administering the survey.
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Survey Versions
The survey is administered in three versions:
Two secondary versions are administered so that a greater number
of questions can be asked in the limited time allotted (one class
period). Certain core items are included on both versions. Both
versions are administered in every participating secondary classroom,
with alternating students receiving Form A or Form B. The elementary
version is shorter and less detailed; it covers topics from both
secondary versions.
Optional Items
All three versions include a perforated page containing potentially
sensitive items that schools can remove prior to the survey
administration.
Other Languages
The survey is available in Spanish. Students read a translated
questionnaire but respond on the English-language answer sheet to
preserve anonymity. Spanish-language survey materials and administration
instructions are sent to all participating schools.
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Changes from 2004 to 2006
Changes from 2004 to 2006
(PDF)
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Changes from 2006 to 2008
Changes from 2006 to 2008
(PDF)
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Survey Item Sources
The questionnaire items were derived primarily from four established
surveys that have been used throughout the United States—some for
more than 25 years. Each of these surveys has been subjected to
scientific research regarding reliability and validity and has been
field tested extensively.
Communities that Care
Developed by: Social Development Research Group, University of Washington
Global Youth Tobacco Survey
Developed by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Monitoring the Future
Developed by: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Administered to a national sample of respondents each year since 1975.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Developed by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Administered in some form in nearly every state on a biennial basis.
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