Survey Content: How were the questions for the survey chosen?
Most of the questions are drawn from larger-scale surveys, to make Illinois data comparable to those. Among the surveys examined for questions have been the “Monitoring the Future” national survey, the “Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” and survey items from the University of Washingtons “Social Development Research Group,” which conducts multi-state studies on prevention of youth substance use. Some other items have been developed to meet specific data needs in Illinois. In addition to substance use and demographic questions, the survey covers some risk and protective factors for youth drug use. In other words, there are specific kinds of information about a youths community, peers, school, and family that are statistically associated with degree of drug use among groups of youth. Questions about violence and a few other “problem behaviors” are also included. The number of questions was cut in 2004, and a particularly abbreviated 6th grade form was created. Administration time is now betwe
