User Manuals

Technical data file user manuals provide detailed information about the statistical design of the ELS:2002 survey waves, data collection methodology, response rates and bias analyses, assessment design, transcript collection methodology, and many other subjects.

Each user manual summarizes technical information relevant to previous survey waves and then provides detailed information about the follow-up that it mainly supports.

The main technical documentation is:

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) Base Year to Third Follow-up Data File Documentation

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) Base-Year to Second Follow-up Data File Documentation

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002: First Follow-up Transcript Component Data File Documentation (Restricted Use)

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002/2004: Base-Year to First Follow-up Data File Documentation

ELS: 2002 Base Year Data File User's Manual

Education Longitudinal Study: 2002 Field Test Report

Supplementary documentation:

PETS Public-use Read-me

F3-to-F2 field of study crosswalk

Other technical documentation can be found at the Publications and Products section.

Where do you find training on the dataset?

Watch our online training modules at your convenience, here: http://nces.ed.gov/training/datauser/