What does WLS mean in UNCLASSIFIED

The WLS is a longstanding research project that has followed a representative sample of Wisconsin high school graduates since 1957. This study's purpose is to examine how individuals adapt and adjust to their roles in adulthood and the aging process by collecting data over the life course. It examines how individual choices, societal factors, health, and economic changes impact life outcomes over time.

Participants in the WLS have ranged from adolescents who graduated high school in 1957 to adults now in their 80s. These individuals have been actively engaged in survey interviews and have responded to extensive questionnaires every few years since their graduation from high school.

The WLS collects data through survey methodologies including questionnaires and interviews with respondents. This allows for a wide range of questions that ask about participants' social circumstances and life events over time, such as marriage, employment histories, income trajectories, investments decisions, physical health, psychological well-being, educational attainment and civic engagement among others.

Participation in the study is limited to those who graduated from an eligible Wisconsin high school between 1957 and 1964. However, if your parent or grandparent graduated between those years they may be eligible for participation if they reside within Wisconsin state lines or U.S borders. Please contact us if you would like more information on eligibility requirements.

Survey interviews are conducted approximately every five to seven years depending on resources available for each wave of data collection which will last about 3-4 hours. Additionally short follow up surveys are also conducted when appropriate depending on changing circumstances occurring in a respondent's life.

Yes! All participants receive an honorarium ranging from $50-$100 upon completion of an interview or questionnaire depending on length of time involved.

Questions asked varyaccording to topics covered during each wave but generally cover a wide range of topics relevant to understanding how people transition into adulthood and age throughout their lifetime such as education & training experiences, family formation & relationships, mental & physical health & well-being, work & retirement experiences among many other topics related to individual development over time.

Absolutely! In order to ensure confidentiality all participant names are removed from any data linked responses before only de-identified responses are made availableto researchers associated withthe study strictlyfor research purposes only.

Through rigorous analysis researchers access important insights gained from our longitudinal dataset which allow them tooffer valuable contextualized evidenceon areas directly relatedtotheir field which helps furtheracademic literatureand general public understanding aroundindividual lives across time.