VT Census Case Studies : NCES - Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey

Created and last modified by ziemer on 06 Jul 2015

Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:

The survey provides data on the difference in literacy and lifeskills of adults in the USA and compares them to other countries.

Link: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/all/

Date Inventory Completed: 7/6/15

Screening

  • Is the data collected opinion-based?
  • Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
  • Is there data available for 2013? The data collection stopped in 2008
  • For Education: Is the data collected at least the school level? No, it's on a national level
  • Can we access the data by August 15th?
  • Can the data be linked to other education/workforce datasets (e.g., K-12, higher education, workforce)? Data can be linked to data from the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), and the 2011 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).

Purpose

  • What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?

The survey was a collaborative effort between Statistics Canada, the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the United States Department of Education, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC) and the Institute for Statistics (UIS) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

  • Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?

The data is used for international information about the adult education between the USA, Bermuda, Canada, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Hungary, Netherlands, and New Zealand. Used for comparisons between the countries.

  • Who else uses the data?

Researchers, policy-makers, education stakeholders

  • Who do they sell the data to?

Qualified researchers who have a restricted access license.

 

Method

  • What is the data collection method? 

Interviewers administered survey and assessment items.

  • What is the type of data collected? 

Designed collection

  • If designed, who created the questions?

The questions were created by the organizations that collaborated on this study (see Purpose).

  • What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)? 

 Nationally representative sample of adults ages 16–65.


Description

  • What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?

Adult skills

  • What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?

2003-2008

  • Is data collected and available periodically?

No, data was collected three times: 2003, 2006, and 2008.

  • How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided? 

Several years.


Selectivity

  • What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?

Adults age 16- to 65-year olds in participating countries.


Accessibility

  • How is the data accessed? 

Public use micro data files are available by order via a cd-rom

  • Is it open data?

No

  • Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?

The files are restricted-use data files that required restricted-use licenses which are granted to qualified researchers.

  • Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

One time payment. Unclear what the amount is, but orders under $250 must be pre-paid.

Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? NO

Explanation: The data is not an ongoing collection and is reported at the national level.


Full Inventory

Description

  • What is the general contents of the data source?

The survey measures foundation skills including prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy and problem solving. 

  • Features
    • What is the temporal nature of the data: longitudinal, time-series, or one time point?

two-time time-series

    • Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?

National-level

 

Metadata

  • Is there information available to assess the transparency and soundness of the methods to gather the data for our purposes?

Yes

  • Is there a description of each variable in the source along with their valid values?

No

  • Are there unique IDs for unique elements that can be used for linking data?

Unclear, but the website says that the data can be linked to other national surveys. 

  • Is there a data dictionary or codebook?

Yes, but it is not available unless you buy the cd-rom.

 

Selectivity

  • What unit is represented at the record level of the data source?

Individual

  • Does this universe match the stated intentions for the data collection? If not, what has been included or excluded and why?

Yes, it is a nationally representative sample.

  • What is the sampling technique used (if applicable)? 

A stratified multi-stage probability sample design

  • What was the coverage?

Response rate is not stated.

 

Stability/Coherence

  • Were there any changes to the universe of data being captured (including geographical areas covered) and if so what were they?

Yes, the countries that the data was collected from changed from 2003 to 2006.

  • Were there any changes in the data capture method and if so what were they? 

Not stated

  • Were there any changes in the sources of data and if so what were they? 

Different individuals were assessed each time.

 

Accuracy

  • Any known sources of error?

Not stated.

  • Describe any quality control checks performed by the data’s owner.

Not stated.

 

Accessibility

  • Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source, such as for confidentiality reasons)? 

Not stated

  • Is there a subset of variables and/or data that is must be obtained through a separate process? If yes, is there a separate legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source? Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

N/A

 

Privacy and security

  • Was consent given by participant? If so, how was consent given?

Not stated

  • Are there legal limitations or restrictions on the use of the data? 

Restricted use data file requiring a restricted use license.

  • What confidentiality policies does the source have? 

N/A

 

Research

  • What research has been done with this dataset? (e.g., impact of policies, predictors of student success)

Overviews of US adult literacy and lifeskills.

  • Include any links to research if provided:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/getpubcats.asp?sid=034

  • List any other data use notes provided by the supplier.