Three-Generation National Survey of Black American Families, 1979-1981 (ICPSR 9288)

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

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

This study explores feelings and attitudes across three generations of Black Americans regarding a variety of topics, including neighborhood-community integration, services, crime and community contact, the role of religion and the church, physical and mental health, and self-esteem. Employment, the effects of chronic unemployment, the effects of race on the job, and interaction with family and friends are also examined. In addition, the survey provides information on racial attitudes and identity, group stereotypes, and race ideology. Demographic variables include age, education, income, occupation, and political behavior and affiliation.

Study Design View help for Study Design

Three questionnaires were administered: 1) the original cross-sectional survey of Black Americans, 2) the re-interview questionnaire, and 3) the family members' questionnaire. All three questionnaires were administered during 1979 and 1980.

The cross-sectional sample was a self-representing national sample of 2,107 Black Americans; if respondents from this sample had two other family members who were of two different generations than the respondent and were still alive (e.g., if a respondent had a daughter and a granddaughter), then interviews were sought for those two family members. The same cross-sectional respondents were re-interviewed using the re-interview questionnaire.

Sample View help for Sample

National multistage probability sample. The sample is self-weighting. Every Black American household in the continental United States had an equal probability of being selected.

Time Method View help for Time Method

Universe View help for Universe

Black United States citizens 18 years of age or older.

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 first set of variables, V1000 to V3072, are the responses for the oldest generation (grandparent); V4000 to V6072 are the responses for the middle generation (parent); and V7000 to V9072 are the responses for the youngest generation (child).

The original cross-section interview covers nine topic areas: Neighborhood, Religion, Health and Problems, Employment Status, Family and Relationships, Use of Help Resources, Group and Personal Identity, Personal Information, and Roots. Also included are a set of interviewer observation variables, followed by the coversheet variables. The re-interview covers four topic areas: Family Relationships, Family Composition, Three-Generational Issues, and Work and Family Economic Well-Being, followed by interviewer observations and coversheet variables.

It should be noted that not all respondents were asked the same questions, and therefore, some questions may have a significant amount of missing data.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

The number of cross-sectional respondents who were eligible for the three generation study was 1,122. Of these, 865 agreed to participate. There was further attrition due to non-response of some family members, therefore, information for all three generations was collected on 510 families (complete triads). If only one family member agreed to be interviewed, they form part of the family dyads dataset which also contains the complete triads as part of the dataset.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

1996-10-13

Version History View help for Version History