2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09) Field Test

Title:	2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09) Field Test
Description:	This report describes the methodology and findings for the field test of the 2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09). These students, who started their postsecondary education during the 2002-03 academic year, were first interviewed as part of the 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) field test. BPS:04/09 is the second follow-up of this cohort. The BPS:04/09 field test was used to plan, implement, and evaluate methodological procedures, instruments, and systems proposed for use in the full-scale study scheduled for the 2008-09 school year. The report provides the sampling design and methodologies used in the field test. It also describes data collection outcomes, including response rates, interview burden, and results of incentive, mailing, and prompting experiments. In addition, the report provides details on the evaluation of data quality for reliability of responses, item nonresponse, and question delivery and data entry error. Recommendations for the full-scale study are provided for the sampling design, locating and tracing procedures, interviewer training, data collection, and instrumentation.
Online Availability:	Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (2478KB) Download, view and print Chapters 1-5 as a pdf file. (1147KB) Download, view and print Appendices A-D as a pdf file. (687KB) Download, view and print Appendices E-F as a pdf file. (1069KB)
Cover Date:	June 2009
Web Release:	August 6, 2009
Publication #:	NCES 200901
Center/Program:	NCES
Authors:	Jennifer Wine, Melissa Cominole, Lesa Caves, RTI International
Type of Product:	Working Paper
	Working Papers provide preliminary analysis of substantive, technical, and methodological issues. They are works in progress that are presented to promote the sharing of valuable work experience and knowledge. These papers have not undergone a rigorous review for consistency with NCES standards.
Survey/Program Areas:	Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS)
Keywords:	Beginning Students in Postsecondary Education Educational Attainment Employment • during college Persistence to Completion of Students in Higher Education
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Working Paper, please contact: Tracy Hunt-White.