Data

DALSC offers a rare possibility to work with a combination of data from surveys and administrative registers. This page links to the various data sources.

The surveys
The surveys are repeated every three to four years. Three  waves of the survey (1996, 1999 and 2003) have been completed at this point in time, while the fourth wave (2007) is in progress. Detailed information about the material used in all waves of the survey is available below.

See information about the survey in 1996.

See information about the survey in 1999.

See information about the survey in 2003.

See information about the survey in 2007.
Repeatedly used variables
The questions asked in the questionnaires vary over time for two main reasons. Firstly, the survey spans almost the entire life of the children (from 6 months in 1996 to 11 years in 2007) which means that the children have passed through different developmental stages, requiring different questions. Secondly, the questionnaires have been continuously developed: in order to allow for new questions to enter the questionnaires while other questions have had to be removed. An overview of questions used in the survey for two years or more is available by clicking  here.

 

Administrative registers
The administrative registers hold information about a lot of background variables (e.g. education, income, criminal record, medical history and members of the same household). In most cases the registers cover the period from 1981 until present day minus two years. Typically, variables are updated once a year, although some variables are available at shorter intervals.

As one does not enter the registers until the age of 15, at this point in time no register information is available about the children in the survey. On the other hand, because the registers allow a link to be made between the children and their parents, aunts, uncles, any stepparents and grandparents, a very elaborate and detailed family background can be obtained.  For a (Danish) description of the variables in the administrative registers, click here.