IDENTIFIERS *National Longitudinal Survey of Youth

During round 16 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), 900 NLSY sample members were randomly assigned to be interviewed about the period since their round 14 interview. Their responses were compared to those of approximately 8,000 NLSY sample members who were assigned to be interviewed about the 1-year period since their round 15 interview. The interviews covered the following: number of jobs reported by respondents; number of gaps between jobs; and reported receipt of unemployment benefits, Food Stamps, or Aid to Families with Dependent Children payments. The 2-year recall period had little discernible effect on means and proportions for the sample as a whole; however, a closer examination of the results revealed substantial errors in the reports covering the 2-year period. The discrepancies in reports concerning the material covered in both rounds 15 and 16 were especially marked among respondents with complicated job and receipt histories. On average, such respondents reported fewer jobs and lower receipt of benefits/payments in their round 16 interview than in their round 15 interview. (Contains 12 references. Appended are 19 tables detailing the following: standard errors; subgroup results; and logistic regression models.) (MN) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document