Edmonton Transitions Study (ETS), Canada, 1985-2017 (ICPSR 39177)
Version Date: Jun 4, 2025 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Matthew D. Johnson, University of Alberta;
Michelle Maroto, University of Alberta;
Harvey J. Krahn, University of Alberta;
Nancy L. Galambos, University of Alberta
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39177.v1
Version V1
Alternate Title View help for Alternate Title
Summary View help for Summary
The Edmonton Transitions Study (ETS) is a longitudinal study that surveyed adults eight times from age 18 until age 50 (Waves 1 through 8). The study's original focus of understanding school to work transitions broadened over time to include other life transitions. In 1985 (Wave 1), 983 grade 12 students from six high schools in Edmonton completed surveys. Follow-up surveys at ages 19 (Wave 2, 1986), 20 (Wave 3, 1987), 22 (Wave 4, 1989), 25 (Wave 5, 1992), 32 (Wave 6, 1999), 43 (Wave 7, 2010), and 50 (Wave 8, 2017) were completed. Data were gathered over the years using paper-pencil questionnaires, computer-assisted telephone interviewing, and web-based surveys.
Citation View help for Citation
Export Citation:
Funding View help for Funding
Subject Terms View help for Subject Terms
Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Smallest Geographic Unit View help for Smallest Geographic Unit
Province
Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)
Time Period(s) View help for Time Period(s)
Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
-
Additional information on the Edmonton Transitions Survey (ETS) can be found by visiting the Edmonton Transitions Study (ETS) Web site.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The purpose of this study is to track the life transitions of adults in Alberta, Canada and to gain insight into their education, career, relationships, and life paths. Originally, the purpose of this study was understanding the school to work transition of Alberta youth during a period of high unemployment in the 1980's. As the participants aged, the study broadened to include other life transitions.
Study Design View help for Study Design
The baseline 1985 sample began with 983 high school seniors. Out of these 983 participants 894 (91%) provided their names and contact information. Four follow up surveys for Waves 2-5 of data collection were conducted by mail in 1986 (age 19), 1987 (age 20), 1989 (age 22), and 1992 (age 25). Only individuals who had participated previously for each respective wave of data collection were contacted. The baseline questionnaire at this time was known as the Youth Unemployment Study, which then gained additional questions and became the 1989 School-Work Transitions Survey.
In 1999 for Wave 6 (age 32) of data collection computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) was used. Some paper questionnaires were also mailed out at the request of study participants. All original 1985 participants were included in this wave of data collection regardless of participation in intervening waves.
In 2010 for Wave 7 (age 43) of data collection, contact was attempted for as many of the original 1985 participants as possible. Extensive efforts to publicize this wave were made including the creation of a study website, the creation of an ETS Facebook page, and publications in local media. There were 405 study participants for this wave. Primarily telephone and web survey technology was used with a small number of participants opting for mail surveys. This wave is also know as the 25th Anniversary Survey of School-Work Transitions in Edmonton (SWT+25).
In 2017 for Wave 8 (age 50) of data collection, contact was again attempted for as many of the original 1985 participants as possible. A $50 incentive for participation was offered. There were 404 study participants for this wave. Primarily telephone and web survey technology was used with no paper and pencil questionnaires completed. This wave of data collection is also known as ETS+32.
Sample View help for Sample
High school seniors were selected from academic and vocational classes from 6 of Edmonton's 11 public schools at the time. The schools chosen were selected to represent middle and working-class areas.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
The birth cohort of 1967 attending high school in Western Canada in 1985.
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables
The data includes variables about socio-demographic characteristics such as participants' age, sex, marital status, race/visible minority status, immigration status, income (personal and household), educational attainment, high school attended, parental status, homeownership, and employment. Also in the dataset are variables about experiences relating to home, school, and work; political and social attitudes; mental health, substance use and illegal activity; family and community life; employment outcomes, personal and family relationships; personality, progress towards goals, health, subjective well-being, subjective age, and reflections on the past.
Response Rates View help for Response Rates
The response rate for all baseline participants (983) was 68% for Wave 2, 56% for Wave 3, 51% for Wave 4, 41% for Wave 5, 51.8% for Wave 6, 41.2% for Wave 7, and 45.2% for Wave 8. The response rate for participants who provided their name and contact information (894) was 74% for Wave 2, 61% for Wave 3, 56% for Wave 4, 45 % for Wave 5, 56.9% for Wave 6, 45.3% for Wave 7, and 41.1% for Wave 8.
HideOriginal Release Date View help for Original Release Date
2025-06-04
Version History View help for Version History
2025-06-04 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Created online analysis version with question text.
- Performed recodes and/or calculated derived variables.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Notes
These data are freely available to data users at ICPSR member institutions. The curation and dissemination of this study are provided by the institutional members of ICPSR. How do I access ICPSR data if I am not at a member institution?