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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the NLSY27?

  • The NLSY27 is a survey to learn about youths’ experiences as they move from school to work and into adulthood.
  • The NLSY27 follows the same group of young people over time.

What Is a Longitudinal Survey?

  • A longitudinal survey collects data from the same group of people at different points in time.
  • It is a good way to look at how life experiences change over time.

How Can I Take Part in the Survey?

  • Only people from households that have been randomly selected for the NLSY27 can take part.

How Are Households Selected?

  • We randomly select households from across the United States.
  • Random selection means that each household in the United States has an equal chance of being selected.
    • Random selection allows NLSY27 to have a diverse group of participants from across the United States representing various races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds.

What Types of Questions Does the Survey Ask?

  • The NLSY27 asks about topics such as education, work, health, family, and social experiences.
  • The NLSY27 also asks parents and caregivers about their youth’s early life experiences, family background, and health.

How Often Do Youth Participate in the NLSY27?

  • NLSY27 participants will be contacted every 1–2 years.

How Often Will Parents or Caregivers Take Part in the NLSY27?

  • Right now, we plan for parents or caregivers to complete one interview in the survey’s first year. However, we might ask parents or caregivers to take part again in the future.

Why Does a Parent or a Caregiver Need to Participate?

  • Input from an adult who has been involved in the life of an NLSY27 participant helps us better understand their youth’s early experiences, family background, significant life events, and health history.

How Much Time Does It Take to Participate?

  • Determining whether your household is eligible takes about 10–20 minutes.
  • The interview itself takes about 60–90 minutes.

Do I Have to Participate in this Survey?

  • No, participation in the NLSY27 is voluntary.

Who Conducts the NLSY27?

  • BLS sponsors this survey. BLS has been sponsoring surveys like the NLSY for over 50 years.
  • RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, conducts this survey for BLS.

How Can I Verify that the NLSY27 is a Legitimate BLS Survey?

  • Look for an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number on any email or mail you receive.
  • You can also call BLS at (202) 691-5200 or request information via this form.
    • A BLS staff member will be happy to confirm that the survey is legitimate.

How Can I Verify that a Person Contacting Me About the NLSY27 is from RTI?

  • Ask to see the interviewer’s RTI identification badge with their picture on it.
  • The interviewer will also have a letter of authorization from RTI.
  • You may also contact the NLSY27 Help Desk at 1-866-800-9180 or email NLSY27@rti.org to verify the person contacting you is from RTI.

How Will You Keep Our Information Safe?

  • BLS is required by law to keep all survey answers confidential.
  • Confidential means that a participant’s name will never be connected to their survey answers.
  • Information parents or caregivers provide will also be kept confidential.
  • When we report results from the NLSY27, your data will be combined with the answers from others who participate in the NLSY27.
    • These combined answers will not include anyone’s name or other information that could personally identify participants.

How Can I Learn More About NLSY27 Confidentiality, Privacy, and Accessibility?

For other more general questions about the NLSY, you can also check out here.

Last modified date: March 25, 2026