Data user guide
About this guide
This data user guide is a reference tool for the users of the Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) datasets.
It is intended to provide the necessary information to be able to use the LSAC data. This includes information on the survey methodology, file structure and variable naming conventions. Particular issues are highlighted to ensure data analysts apply the LSAC data appropriately in their research. Development of the data user guide is ongoing and it is updated at each release of LSAC data to reflect new content, instruments and enhancements.
Additional resources available for users of the LSAC data include:
- questionnaires and interview specifications marked with variable names for Computer Assisted Interviews (CAI), including Computer Assisted Self Interviews (CASI) in the home, Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) and Computer Assisted Web Interviews (CAWI) instruments)
- a data dictionary
- technical papers on weighting, non-response and other issues
- data issues papers
- rationale paper.
Data users should read the 'Important issues for data analysis' section carefully. It outlines particular aspects of the sample design that have important implications for interpreting analyses from the study.
If you have any feedback, had difficulty understanding any of the data user guide's content or would like us to include additional content, please email us.
Acknowledgements
Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) is conducted in partnership between the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with advice provided by a consortium of leading researchers from research institutions and universities throughout Australia.
The Wave 9C data files were prepared by the ABS and AIFS data processing teams and reviewed by DSS. AIFS has updated the current version of the LSAC Data User Guide.
The authors wish to acknowledge:
- the DSS Longitudinal Studies and the ABS for their support in providing feedback
- former AIFS Data Managers (Sebastian Mission, Mark Sipthorp) for their contribution to earlier versions of the data user guide
Suggested citation: Readers wishing to refer to this document should cite the following:
Mohal, J., Lansangan, C., Gasser, C., Howell, L., Hockey, P., Duffy, J., Renda, J., Scovelle, A., Jessup, K., Daraganova, G. & Mundy, L. (2023). Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children – Data User Guide, Release 9.1C2, April 2023. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. doi:10.26193/QR4L6Q