Information about the cohort members was collected from their teachers at sweep two. The questionnaire used was an abbreviated version of Robert Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a well validated behaviour screening questionnaire used to assess aspects of problem and pro-social behaviour in 4 to 16 year olds. The abbreviated SDQ consisted of 10 statements about young people’s behaviour and emotional state. Teachers were asked to rate each statement as 'not true', 'somewhat true' and 'certainly true' for each member of the cohort, thus generating a total difficulties score. An overall 'impact' question was also asked to determine whether there were any difficulties causing problems for pupils in key aspects of their lives.

The response rate for the teacher questionnaire at sweep 2 was 95.5% (number 4,180) of all pupils enrolled at sweep 2.

Parent questionnaire

A survey of parents and carers of the cohort members was carried out in 2001 in association with the National Centre for Social Research. This involved a half hour interview with person who has most responsibility for looking after the cohort member. The interviews covered a of topics including family structure, relationships and conflict at home, parental supervision and discipline, parental contact with the school, parental knowledge of the child's leisure activities and offending behaviour, and other related topics.

The parent questionnaire can be downloaded using the link below.

Sweep 4 Parents Questionnaire 2001

74.3% (number 3259) of parents and carers who were eligible to participate completed the questionnaire at sweep 4.