Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Release 6 (Waves 1-6)

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Department of Social Services; Australian Institute of Family Studies; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018, "Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Release 6 (Waves 1-6)", https://doi.org/10.26193/JOZW2U, ADA Dataverse, V3

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Description	Growing Up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) is a major study following the development of 10,090 children and families from all parts of Australia. LSAC explores family and social issues while addressing a range of research questions about children’s development and wellbeing. The Wave 1 data collection was undertaken for AIFS by private social research companies Colmar Brunton Social Research and I-view/NCS Pearson. Data collection for Waves 2-6 was undertaken by the ABS. From 2004, participating families have been interviewed every two years, and between-wave mail-out questionnaires were sent to families in 2005 (Wave 1.5), 2007 (Wave 2.5) and 2009 (Wave 3.5). Additional between-wave questionnaires (Waves 4.5 and 5.5) were undertaken via online web forms from 2009 for the purposes of updating the contact details of study participants. The sampling unit of interest is the study child and there were two cohorts of children selected from children born within two 12-month periods: (1) B cohort ("Baby" cohort) - children born March 2003–February 2004, and (2) K cohort ("Kinder" cohort) - children born March 1999–February 2000. Please note that this release of LSAC is now superseded, and is available by request for approved training courses only. For the current release, please visit https://ada.edu.au/lsac_current
Subject	Social Sciences
Keyword	Child care, Child development, Child health, Child welfare, Cognitive development, Education, Employment, Family, Finances, Health, Housing, Infants, Learning, Mental health, Parenting, Pregnancy, Relationships, Social capital, Social welfare, Youth
Related Publication	Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2015). Longitudinal Study of Australian Children Data User Guide – November 2015. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
License/Data Use Agreement	Custom Dataset Terms

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	1. Data Dictionary LSAC Release 6.xlsx MS Excel Spreadsheet - 9.5 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 201 Downloads MD5: f1b48cb51195171f9f25c5dbd0c3a957 LSAC R6 Data Dictionary Data DictionaryDocumentationLSAC	Access File File Access Public Download Options MS Excel Spreadsheet Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	1. Data User Guide LSAC Release 6.pdf Adobe PDF - 5.7 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 170 Downloads MD5: c9a7915917a95707e3fdbd017667c06c LSAC R6 Data User Guide Data User GuideDocumentationLSAC	Access File File Access Public Download Options Adobe PDF Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	1. Documentation - LSAC Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 345.4 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 138 Downloads MD5: 98bd4cdf3ddce7794ccd7dcf5e94a22a LSAC Release 6 complete documentation, including questionnaires, data dictionary and Frequencies for both General and Restricted Releases DocumentationGeneral ReleaseLSACRestricted Release	Access File File Access Public Download Options ZIP Archive Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	2. SAS - LSAC General Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 199.9 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 157 Downloads MD5: 74676bc331556e17a60cc77628ca4abc LSAC General Release 6 data files - SAS format DataGeneral ReleaseLSACSAS	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	2. SPSS - LSAC General Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 127.9 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 176 Downloads MD5: 538877ad50cd5770d112ef2cd5785370 LSAC General Release 6 data files - SPSS format DataGeneral ReleaseLSACSPSS	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	2. Stata - LSAC General Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 113.9 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 231 Downloads MD5: e75d5b570579010a7a7b1db0f0937bed LSAC General Release 6 data files - Stata format DataGeneral ReleaseLSACStata	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	3. SAS - LSAC Restricted Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 242.7 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 45 Downloads MD5: dbd21798ace4f99297358e5d541337d3 LSAC Restricted Release 6 data files - SAS format DataLSACRestricted ReleaseSAS	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	3. SPSS - LSAC Restricted Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 173.8 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 47 Downloads MD5: e5b642bcc2eb5cea332a9f675dd27d02 LSAC Restricted Release 6 data files - SPSS format DataLSACRestricted ReleaseSPSS	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	3. Stata - LSAC Restricted Release 6.zip ZIP Archive - 156.6 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 73 Downloads MD5: b74a2000f30d720dfca59f1b226e9039 LSAC Restricted Release 6 data files - Stata format DataLSACRestricted ReleaseStata	Access File File Access Restricted Users may not request access to files. Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX
	4. Special Purpose Dataset – AEDC Data Dictionary.docx MS Word - 1.8 MB Published Nov 22, 2018 36 Downloads MD5: 23263f230e3233c924456f06888b2e99 Australian Early Development Census Data Dictionary AEDCData DictionaryDocumentation	Access File File Access Public Download Options MS Word Download Metadata Data File Citation EndNote XML RIS BibTeX

Citation Metadata

Persistent Identifier	doi:10.26193/JOZW2U
Publication Date	2018-11-22
Title	Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Release 6 (Waves 1-6)
Alternative Title	LSAC Release 6
Alternative URL	http://growingupinaustralia.gov.au
Other Identifier	Australian Data Archive: 01334
Author	Department of Social Services (Australian Government) Australian Institute of Family Studies (Australian Government) Australian Bureau of Statistics (Australian Government)
Point of Contact	Use email button above to contact. Australian Data Archive (The Australian National University)
Description	Growing Up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) is a major study following the development of 10,090 children and families from all parts of Australia. LSAC explores family and social issues while addressing a range of research questions about children’s development and wellbeing. The Wave 1 data collection was undertaken for AIFS by private social research companies Colmar Brunton Social Research and I-view/NCS Pearson. Data collection for Waves 2-6 was undertaken by the ABS. From 2004, participating families have been interviewed every two years, and between-wave mail-out questionnaires were sent to families in 2005 (Wave 1.5), 2007 (Wave 2.5) and 2009 (Wave 3.5). Additional between-wave questionnaires (Waves 4.5 and 5.5) were undertaken via online web forms from 2009 for the purposes of updating the contact details of study participants. The sampling unit of interest is the study child and there were two cohorts of children selected from children born within two 12-month periods: (1) B cohort ("Baby" cohort) - children born March 2003–February 2004, and (2) K cohort ("Kinder" cohort) - children born March 1999–February 2000. Please note that this release of LSAC is now superseded, and is available by request for approved training courses only. For the current release, please visit https://ada.edu.au/lsac_current
Subject	Social Sciences
Keyword	Child care (APAIS) http://vocabularyserver.com/apais/index.php Child development (APAIS) Child health (APAIS) Child welfare (APAIS) Cognitive development (APAIS) Education (APAIS) Employment (APAIS) Family (APAIS) Finances (APAIS) Health (APAIS) Housing (APAIS) Infants (APAIS) Learning (APAIS) Mental health (APAIS) Parenting (APAIS) Pregnancy (APAIS) Relationships (APAIS) Social capital (APAIS) Social welfare (APAIS) Youth (APAIS)
Related Publication	Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2015). Longitudinal Study of Australian Children Data User Guide – November 2015. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. url: https://growingupinaustralia.gov.au/data-and-documentation/data-user-guide LSAC Survey Publications. url: https://growingupinaustralia.gov.au/research-findings FLoSse Research, DSS's Longitudinal Surveys Electronic Research. url: http://flosse.dss.gov.au/index.php
Language	English
Producer	Department of Social Services (Australian Government) (DSS) https://www.dss.gov.au/
Contributor	Research Group : Australian Institute of Family Studies Research Group : Consortium Advisory Group (leading Australian researchers) Data Manager : Australian Institute of Family Studies Data Manager : National Centre for Longitudinal Data, Department of Social Services Data Collector : I-view/NCS Pearson (Wave 1) Data Collector : Colmar Brunton Social Research (Wave 1) Data Collector : Australian Bureau of Statistics Funder : Department of Social Services
Distributor	Australian Data Archive (Australian National University) (ADA) https://ada.edu.au
Depositor	Department of Social Services
Deposit Date	2017-06
Time Period	Start Date: 2004-03 ; End Date: 2014-12
Date of Collection	Start Date: 2004-03 ; End Date: 2004-12 Start Date: 2006-03 ; End Date: 2006-12 Start Date: 2008-03 ; End Date: 2008-12 Start Date: 2010-03 ; End Date: 2010-12 Start Date: 2012-03 ; End Date: 2012-12 Start Date: 2014-03 ; End Date: 2014-12
Data Type	Survey data
Series	Longitudinal Study of Australian Children: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), also known as Growing up in Australia, is a major study following the development of 10,090 children and families from all parts of Australia. LSAC tracks children’s development and life course trajectories in today’s economic, social and political environment. Content covers multiple aspects of individual, family, community and society characteristics for each individual. It has a broad multi-disciplinary base, and examines policy-relevant questions about development and lifetime wellbeing. By tracking study participants over time, researchers will be able to determine the factors associated with consistency and change in life course pathways, trajectories in today's economic, social and political environment.
Software	SPSS, Version: 24.0 Stata, Version: 12.0 SAS, Version: 9.4
Related Material	Data documentation

Geospatial Metadata

Geographic Coverage	Australia
Geographic Unit	State

Social Science and Humanities Metadata

Unit of Analysis	Individual
Universe	Two cohorts of children aged 0-1 (“Baby” B cohort) and 4-5 (“Kinder” K cohort) years old at the time of the first interview in 2004. Across all six waves information has been collected from the study children, their parents/carers, and teachers.
Time Method	Longitudinal/panel/cohort study
Frequency	Biennial
Sampling Procedure	Two-stage clustered sample design, with postcodes selected first, then children. Stratification was used to ensure proportional geographic representation for states/territories and capital city statistical division/rest of state areas. The sample was stratified by state, capital city statistical division/balance of state and two strata based on the size of the target population in the postcode. Postcodes were selected with probability proportional to size selection where possible, and with equal probability for small population postcodes. Children from both cohorts were selected from the same 311 postcodes. Some remote postcodes were excluded from the design, and the population estimates were adjusted accordingly. Children were selected with approximately equal chance of selection for each child (about one in 25). Apart from some remote areas, the sample was selected to be representative of all Australian children (citizens and permanent residents) in each of two selected age cohorts: (1) children born March 2003-February 2004 (B cohort); and (2) children born March 1999-February 2000 (K cohort).
Collection Mode	The majority of the data is collected through face-to-face interview. For full details of all methods used to collect the data, please refer to Section 3 (Instruments) of the LSAC Data User Guide.
Type of Research Instrument	Structured
Characteristics of Data Collection Situation	Depending on wave of data collection, the average allowed for time in the home by the interviewer varied between 90 minutes (Wave 2) and 126 minutes (Wave 1). As part of a standard ABS interviewer induction, ABS interviewers receive two weeks of intensive training across a range of standard procedures and practices. In addition, before each wave interviewers attend a 2-4 day LSAC-specific training.
Actions to Minimize Losses	Contact is maintained with study families between waves by sending birthday cards, annual calendars and newsletters and via the between-wave mail-out and online questionnaires. These processes have resulted in some families contacting the ABS to update their contact information, which helps when trying to arrange appointments for the main waves of interviewing.
Weighting	The LSAC study design, based on a complex probability sample, is specifically designed to produce valid estimates at the population level. By properly accounting for the survey design, it is possible to make valid inferences about the entire population of children in the relevant age groups. The LSAC sampling strategy has three important elements: (1) stratification to ensure proportional representation of all states and both capital city and ex-metropolitan areas; (2) clustering by postcode to both reduce field enumeration costs and allow the study of community-level effects on children’s development and wellbeing; (3) weighting to adjust for potential non-response bias and to provide population estimates. For more information please see Section 12.1 (Weighting and external validity) of the LSAC Data User Guide.
Response Rate	In Wave 1, the total number of respondents was 10,090. For subsequent waves, the response rate (calculated as a proportion of Wave 1 respondents) ranges from 72.4 per cent in Wave 6 to 90 per cent in Wave 2.

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The terms and conditions of use for NCLD datasets are set out in the NCLD Access and Use Guidelines including obligations as an authorised data user. A summary of your obligations are as follows:

1. STORAGE:

Store all copies of the Datasets, whether full or partial, in a manner set out in the Guidelines.
Destroy or delete all copies of any Dataset you no longer need.
Understand that you are responsible for the Datasets unless and until all copies of the dataset in your control have been destroyed AND you have notified DSS of their destruction.

2. USAGE:

Do not attempt to identify individuals in any Dataset
If spontaneous recognition occurs, to not share the identity of any person within the Dataset.
Do not share unit record data with anyone who is not an authorised user of the same Dataset.
Do not match, share, link, integrate or merge any NCLD Dataset with other Datasets without written permission from DSS.

3. PUBLICATION:

Make all your published or finalised research publicly available in a manner set out in the Guidelines.
Do not publish any Unit Record Data or any research material that could lead to respondent identification.
Include the appropriate Dataset acknowledgement in all your research materials.
Only publish research material that reports at a level of detail (e.g. for geography) as set out in the Guidelines.

4. NOTIFICATION:

Notify DSS in the following cases:

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Restrictions Access to controlled access files in this dataset is restricted.

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Under the Terms and Conditions of Use, Authorised Users have agreed to acknowledge DSS and the relevant Study Providers in all Research Material.

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Disclaimer The Australian Government and the ADA shall not be held responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the material supplied, including any Research Materials and any Replication Materials.

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