The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a continuing, multi-disciplinary longitudinal study which takes as its subjects all those living in Great Britain who were born between 3 and 9 March 1958.
Following the initial birth survey in 1958 - the Perinatal Mortality Survey (PMS) - there have been, to date, six attempts to trace all members of the birth cohort in order to monitor their physical, educational, social and economic development.
Information includes: social and family background, obstetric history, antenatal care, smoking during pregnancy, pre-school experience, separation from mother, behaviour, parental involvement, clinical assessment including tests of motor co-ordination and laterality, training, education and qualifications since school, attitudes to school and work, marriage and cohabitation, characteristics of partners, number age and sex of all natural children, health, lifestyle housing, attitudes towards women's roles, children and the family, social and political values, environmentalism and racism.
Sponsor:
A range of research organisations and government departments.
Contractor:
Size of data collection:
Linked surveys/sources:
Method:
Cohort, Panel or Longitudinal Study
Status:
Frequency of collection or compilation:
Other periodic
Reference period:
Timeliness:
Year data first available:
1958. In 1991 information was collected on the children of selected cohort members.
Year of latest available data:
1991
History of data collection / breaks and discontinuities:
In the first three NCDS surveys, information was obtained from parents, head teachers and class teachers, the schools health service, and the subjects themselves (from questionnaires and ability tests).
From 1981, the survey information was obtained from the subject by research interviewers and from the 1971 and 1981 Census.
The 1991 survey also relied on research interviewers. Self completion questionnaires were also used on subjects, husbands, wives and cohabitees. A random sample of one in three cohort members provided information on natural or adopted children who were living with them. Data were gathered from the children themselves and from their mother or mother-figure, using a series of age specific assessments of cognitive and behavioural development. These were supplemented by a mother interview, and by interviewer observations of mother-child interaction.
Main areas for which data is collected:
National: England Scotland Wales
Extent of geographical coverage:
Spatial units of data collection:
Smallest spatial unit for which data are made available:
Commonly available units for which aggregate data are made available:
Standard geographical classification or coding systems used:
Descriptive summary of geographical coverage and geographic referencing system:
Legislative status:
Deposited with data archive?
Bibliographic material:
For full list see NCDS User Support Group, Working Paper No. 2. Butler, NR and Bonham, DG (1963) Perinatal Mortality. Edinburgh: E&S Livingstone Davie, R., Butler, N., and Goldstein, H., (1972) From Birth to Seven. London Longman Fogelman, K., (Ed), (1976) Britain's Sixteen-Year-Olds. London: National Childrens Bureau. Iyer, R, (1984) Analysis of response. NCDS4 Working Paper 25. London: National Children's Bureau Ferri, E (Ed) (1993) Life at 33: the fifth follow-up of the National Child Development Study. London: National Children's Bureau Growing up in Great Britain: Papers for the National Child Development Study, edited by Ken Fogelman. Life at 33: the fifth follow-up of the National Child Development Study, (1993) Elsa Ferri (ed)
New born children in the week 3rd to 9th March 1958 in Great Britain
Summary of coverage:
Data collected in 1958 (birth, 1965 (age 5), 1969 (age 11), 1974 (Age 16), 1978 (collection of exam results), 1981 (Age 23), 1991 (Age 33).
There have been seven sweeps undertaken to date, (including birth survey). NB. Data have also been gathered for special sub-samples.
Date has been gathered on individuals - all those living in Grant Britain born between 3 and 9 March 1958. Sources have included: Birth - Parents; medical records 7-16 - Parents; teachers; doctors; individuals 23 - Individuals 33 - Individuals; spouse/partners; and children and mother (-figures) of a 1 in 3 random sample.
Key census variables used:
Harmonised questions used:
Not yet, but instruments (especially at 23 and 33) incorporate question derived from the Census, GHS, etc, to provide data for comparison. New survey will seek to incorporate harmonised survey questions (and outputs) wherever possible.
