About LSAY
Frequently asked questions
About the survey
1. What is a longitudinal survey?
A longitudinal survey follows the same participants over an extended period of time, usually several years. Survey participants (also known as a 'cohort') begin the study when they turn 15 years old or when they are in Year 9. Individuals are then contacted once a year for up to 10 years. Studies began in 1995 (Y95 cohort), 1998 (Y98 cohort), 2003 (Y03 cohort), 2006 (Y06 cohort) and more recently in 2009 (Y09 cohort). Over 10 000 students start out in each cohort.
2. How are survey participants selected?
Since 2003, survey participants have been selected from school students who participate in the Australian component of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey. This is a written test that students undertake in school to assess the knowledge and skills of 15 year olds. Prior to 2003, students were selected at random across all Australian schools in all school sectors and states.
3. What is a cohort?
The group of young people in the survey is collectively known as a 'cohort', and named by the year they first entered the survey. For example, Y09 entered the survey in 2009.
4. When does the next survey group begin?
The next survey group after Y09 is yet to be confirmed.
5. Who designs the survey questionnaire?
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) works closely with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and Wallis Consulting Group to design the survey questions. Changes to the survey are kept to a minimum to maintain consistency across the years and cohorts.
6. Does everyone remain in the survey?
Survey attrition occurs when not all participants answer the survey in subsequent waves of interviewing. The data collection contractor works hard at achieving high response rates but there is still some drop-out between waves of the interviews.
Survey attrition is an issue when reporting survey results if there are different groups of people dropping out at differing rates. Attrition can lead to biased population estimates. In LSAY, survey attrition is addressed by trying to maximise the year on year response rate and through the application of attrition weights.
7. Can individuals in the survey be identified from the data?
Details about any individual in the LSAY surveys are never made available in LSAY reports or anywhere else. The names and contact details for every LSAY participant are kept in a secure database by Wallis Consulting Group. These details are stored separately from the data collected during the annual interviews. The data analysis is undertaken by NCVER, who do not have any of your contact details on the data files.
Each participant is contacted by mail prior to interviewing and given the opportunity to review and amend their contact details. Wallis Consulting Group fully endorses and adheres to the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in relation to the handling of personal information. Wallis Consulting Group's privacy policy is available from their home page.
8. I'm in the survey, how do I update my details?
You can contact Wallis Consulting Group by phone on 1800 241 271 or by email at: lsay@wallisgroup.com.au
About the data
1. How reliable are the LSAY data?
Wallis Consulting Group, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) work hard to ensure that the data are consistently collected across waves and cohorts.
However, it is important to note that the accuracy and reliability of LSAY data decreases as the sample size decreases. As a rule, NCVER do not publish figures which have sample sizes less than five, and all estimates that have relative standard errors greater than 25% are flagged in any tables created.
2. How do people access LSAY data?
The use of data is restricted to research purposes only and they are not to be used for commercial or financial gain. The LSAY data files for analysis do not contain any participant's contact details.
Data access is via the Australian Data Archive (ADA) and requires authorisation from the ADA National Manager.
3. Who uses the LSAY data?
LSAY data is used by researchers to inform youth transition policy. For example The role of VET project from the Melbourne institute of Applied Economic and Social Research took information from the youth surveys and delivered a report on the ‘scarring effects’ of youth unemployment, and the importance of post-school study in reducing these effects.
Other Australian research organisations and research centres undertaking work that includes a focus either on youth or longitudinal studies can be viewed here.
Research reports are produced which examine relevant policy issues and comprise original analysis using the LSAY data sets and other data where relevant.
Briefing papers synthesise findings from already completed LSAY research reports on important themes and may also contain some more basic analysis of LSAY data.
