Illinois Valedictorian Project, 1981 - 1994

This longitudinal study follows the lives of top academic achievers in order to explore the antecedents, costs, and rewards of academic success, as well as its relationship to career and personal life adaptation. The researchers identified 81 (46 women, 35 men) valedictorians, salutatorians, or top honors 1981 graduates from 33 high schools throughout Illinois. The participants were mostly White, except for 5 African Americans, 3 Latinos and 1 Asian American. Interviews were conducted each year from 1981-1984, and up to 4 more were conducted between 1985 and 1994. Survey data were also collected. In-depth interviews examined the participants' needs and sources of achievement, experiences that influenced academic achievement, and attitudes towards themselves, their families, their lives, and their futures. Quantitative data sources included a survey about student lifestyles and values collected in 1981 and 1990, 6 yearly updates, fact sheets, the Personal Attribute Questionnaire, Work and Family Orientation Questionnaire (the latter two collected in 1985), and a survey on educational and employment experiences, and personal and occupational values. The Archive holds the original interview transcripts, graduation addresses, fact sheets, updates, questionnaires, and correspondence for 81 participants. The paper data from this study are not yet available for use