The 1956, 1958, 1960 NES American Panel Study
Sample Information

This study was conducted jointly with the 1956, 1958, and 1960 cross-section (time series) studies. Included in the 1956-1958-1960 file are respondents interviewed at least once in 1960 who were also interviewed at least once previously (in 1956 OR 1958). Some new respondents entered the panel in 1958 but not in 1960.

In 1958, reinterviews were sought with all pre respondents from the 1956 study (1), including those who had moved since 1956 but who were located at their new 1958 address (this locating effort was limited somewhat by budgetary constraints). Note that cases reinterviewed at new addresses were not part of the 1958 cross-section (time-series) study. In construction of the 1958 cross-section, compensation for 1956 study 'movers' was attempted by selecting new Rs from among the current dwellers in households vacated by 1956 respondents (2).

In 1960, reinterviews were (again) sought with all pre respondents from the 1956 study, where movers were followed in a similar fashion as attempted in 1958 (3). In addition, interviews were sought with all 1958 cross-section respondents. A summary table describing participation by wave appears below.

                         PARTICIPATION BY WAVE
                          1956     1956      1958     1960     1960
      1956-58-60 FILE    Pre      Post                Pre     Post
      ---------------    ----     -----     ----     ----     ----
                   15                          X        X
                    5       X                           X
                    3       X                  X        X
                    2                X         X        X
                   10       X        X                  X
                   52       X        X         X        X
                   10                          X                 X
                    2       X                  X                 X
                   18       X        X         X                 X
                    3       X        X                           X
                 250                           X        X        X
                    5       X                           X        X
                   29       X                  X        X        X
                   84       X        X                  X        X
                 1026       X        X         X        X        X
                ____      ____     ____     ____      ____     ____
  
     TOTALS     1514     (1237)   (1195)   (1407)    (1481)   (1427)

  Interviews taken during each study year which were eventually included in the
  panel datafile:

      YEAR   TOTAL # IWs    PRE ONLY   POST ONLY   PRE AND POST
     ----   -----------    --------   ---------   ------------
      1956      1239     =     44          2          1193
 
      1958      1407     =     --       1407           --
      1960      1514     =     87         33          1394
 

(1) In addition, 2 post-only cases from 1956 were reinterviewed in 1958-- and again in 1960-- and were included in the panel file. [Note that the release version of the 1956 study only includes those respondents who granted both pre and post interviews].

(2) To reduce field costs, only half as many such additional respondents were added as would have been selected if their probability of selection had been identical to that of the reinterviewed respondents. For this reason, the 1958 cross-section data are weighted.]

(3) Rs who were interviewed in 1956 but not in 1958 were eligible for reinterviewing in 1960 only as part of the panel study (excluded from the 1960 cross-section study). [The 1960 cross-section (time-series) study also included as new respondents eligible Rs from new sample dwellings and Rs selected from dwellings vacated by 1958 respondents.]