[What is IYDS?] [Project Description] [Aims and Objectives] [Procedures] [Consent and Privacy]

To create a detailed picture of youth and young adult development in Victoria and Washington State, the IYDS:

• Surveyed over 150 randomly selected public and private schools from Victoria and Washington State in 2002.
• One class per school was invited to take part in the study. Selected classes were from three year levels: Grade 5 (age 10), Year 7 (age 12) and Year 9 (age 14).
• Approximately 1000 students at each of the three year levels in both Victoria and Washington took part in the study, giving a total of nearly 6000 students.
• There have been 11 waves of data collection since the commencement of the study.

Information is collected from the following sources:

Student Surveys: Students completed a questionnaire at school in 2002, 2003 and 2004, telling us about their lives and experiences. The youngest students in the Victorian arm of our study were also surveyed again in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Also in 2008, some students were involved in a more detailed interview which provided a richer understanding of the school environment.

School Administrator Surveys: An administrator at each school completed a mail survey in 2002, 2003 and 2004, providing information about their school's substance use policies and practices.

Parent Telephone Interviews: Parents completed a brief telephone interview in 2002, providing details on family background and parental awareness of school policies.

Young Adult and Adult Surveys: All participants from Victoria were invited to complete an online survey in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Participants from Washington, US and Victoria, Aus were invited to participate in an online survey again in 2018.