Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is a longitudinal birth cohort study, following a nationally representative sample of over 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Cohort members have been sureveyed throughout their childhood and adult lives, mapping their individual trajectories and creating a unique resource for researchers. It is one of very few longitudinal studies following people of this generation anywhere in the world.Since 1970, cohort members have been surveyed at ages 5, 10, 16, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42 and 46. Featuring a range of objective measures and rich self-reported data, BCS70 covers an incredible amount of ground and can be used in research on many topics Evidence from BCS70 has illuminated important issues for our society across five decades. Key findings include how reading for pleasure matters for children's cognitive development, why grammar schools have not reduced social inequalities, and how childhood experiences can impact on mental health in mid-life. Every day researchers from across the scientific community are using this important study to make new connections and discoveries.BCS70 is run by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), a research centre in the UCL Institute of Education, which is part of University College London. The content of BCS70 studies, including questions, topics and variables can be explored via the CLOSER Discovery website.How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from BCS70 that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Secure Access datasetsSecure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).
The main aim of the 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 34, Sweep 7, 2004-2005 was to explore the factors central to the formation and maintenance of adult identity in each of the following domains: lifelong learning relationships, parenting and housing employment and income health and health behaviour citizenship and values For the fifth edition (May 2020), a dataset and an accompanying user guide on the Dyslexia Adult Screening Test (DAST) module, which was completed as part of the 2004 survey, have been added to the study.
Main Topics:
Topics covered in the Age 34 survey included: Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI): housing; partnerships, current and former; births and other pregnancies; periods of lone parenthood; children and the wider family; family income; employment status/employment history; academic education; vocational training; access to and use of computers; basic skills; general health; diet and exercise; height and weight; family activities; social participation; social support Computer Aided Self-completion Interviewing (CASI): political attitudes; family life; drinking; general skills; psychological well-being; experience of crime adult assessments; basic skills (literacy and numeracy) questions in multiple choice format (CASI/CAPI); basic skills (literacy and numeracy) questions in an open-response format (CAPI); reading/writing exercises (adapted from the Dyslexia Adult Screening Test) Parent and Child Interviews: Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample parent interview (CAPI) age specific questions on: childs physical and mental health; mothers health-related behaviour during pregnancy; parent-child separations; pre-school care; current education; parental aspirations; consent for child assessments Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample parent self-completion (paper) age specific questions on: physical and cognitive development; parent/child relationship; childs behaviour and how s/he relates to other children and adults; disciplining children; school absence/exclusion; reading and schoolwork Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample child assessments age specific (3<17) assessments: early years (3:0 - 5:11); BAS naming vocabulary; BAS early number concepts; copying school age (6:0; 16:11); BAS word reading; BAS spelling; BAS number skills Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample Child (10<17) self-completion (paper): leisure time; relationship with their parents; attitudes to school and aspirations for the future; smoking, drinking, drug use and experience of petty crime; self-esteem
No sampling (total universe)
Face-to-face interview
Self-administered questionnaire
Psychological measurements and tests
Educational measurements and tests
