Youth Studies Series

Investigator(s): M. Kent Jennings

The Youth Studies Series is a set of surveys designed to assess political continuity and change across time for biologically-related generations and to gauge the impact of life-stage events and historical trends on the behaviors and attitudes of respondents. A national sample of high school seniors and their parents was first surveyed in 1965. Subsequent surveys of the same individuals were conducted in 1973, 1982, and 1997. The general objective was to study the dynamics of political attitudes and behaviors by obtaining data on the same individuals as they aged from approximately 18 years of age in 1965 to 50 years of age in 1997. In this manner, the Youth Studies Series facilitates the analysis of generational, life cycle, and historical effects and political influences on relationships within the family.