ABSTRACT
In our search for existing national data bases that might be included in a unified data base, our first task was to search the literature to identify any data bases that we did not already know about. We limited the search to large national data bases but did not require that the data bases be national probability samples. We excluded several well-known smaller data bases, such as Terman's base for gifted students and Bachman's annual surveys, even though they are valuable for other purposes. We also excluded several excellent overseas data bases, such as those from the Scottish and Swedish longitudinal studies, and also data bases limited to single states, such as those for Illinois and California, even though for some purposes these also are valuable sources of data. The data bases identified are listed in Table 2.1. The Appendix provides a brief description of each base, along with information about how to obtain copies of the data bases.
