DOI: 10.3886/icpsr09288.v3
title: Three-Generation National Survey of Black American Families, 1979-1981
title: Version 3

description: This dataset was created by merging information collected from three questionnaires that form part of the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA), 1979-1980 (ICPSR 8512). The three questionnaires were (1) the original cross-sectional survey questionnaire, (2) the re-interview questionnaire, and (3) the family members questionnaire. All three were administered from 1979-1981. The unit of analysis in this dataset is three generations of a family, or a "triad." Each unit or record has identical variables for the three individuals making up a triad (i.e., a grandparent, parent, and child). There are 510 triads in this dataset.
The study explores feelings and attitudes across the three generations of Black Americans regarding neighborhood-community integration, services, crime and community contact, the role of religion and the church, physical and mental health, and self-esteem. Employment, the effects of chronic unemployment, the effects of race on the job, and interaction with family and friends are also examined. In addition, the survey provides information on racial attitudes, race identity, group stereotypes, and race ideology. Demographic variables include age, education, income, occupation, and political behavior and affiliation.
description: This study explores feelings and attitudes across three generations of Black Americans regarding a variety of topics, including neighborhood-community integration, services, crime and community contact, the role of religion and the church, physical and mental health, and self-esteem. Employment, the effects of chronic unemployment, the effects of race on the job, and interaction with family and friends are also examined. In addition, the survey provides information on racial attitudes and identity, group stereotypes, and race ideology. Demographic variables include age, education, income, occupation, and political behavior and affiliation.
description: Three questionnaires were administered: 1) the original cross-sectional survey of Black Americans, 2) the re-interview questionnaire, and 3) the family members' questionnaire. All three questionnaires were administered during 1979 and 1980.
The cross-sectional sample was a self-representing national sample of 2,107 Black Americans; if respondents from this sample had two other family members who were of two different generations than the respondent and were still alive (e.g., if a respondent had a daughter and a granddaughter), then interviews were sought for those two family members. The same cross-sectional respondents were re-interviewed using the re-interview questionnaire.
description: The first set of variables, <strong>V1000</strong> to <strong>V3072</strong>, are the responses for the oldest generation (grandparent); <strong>V4000</strong> to <strong>V6072</strong> are the responses for the middle generation (parent); and <strong>V7000</strong> to <strong>V9072</strong> are the responses for the youngest generation (child). 
The original cross-section interview covers nine topic areas: Neighborhood, Religion, Health and Problems, Employment Status, Family and Relationships, Use of Help Resources, Group and Personal Identity, Personal Information, and Roots. Also included are a set of interviewer observation variables, followed by the coversheet variables. The re-interview covers four topic areas: Family Relationships, Family Composition, Three-Generational Issues, and Work and Family Economic Well-Being, followed by interviewer observations and coversheet variables.
It should be noted that not all respondents were asked the same questions, and therefore, some questions may have a significant amount of missing data.
description: Response Rates: The number of cross-sectional respondents who were eligible for the three generation study was 1,122. Of these, 865 agreed to participate. There was further attrition due to non-response of some family members, therefore, information for all three generations was collected on 510 families (complete triads). If only one family member agreed to be interviewed, they form part of the family dyads dataset which also contains the complete triads as part of the dataset.
description: National multistage probability sample. The sample is
self-weighting. Every Black American household in the continental United States had an equal probability of being selected.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Complete Family Triads Dataset
description: Black United States citizens 18 years of age or older. Smallest Geographic Unit: City
description: coded on-site observation; face-to-face interview; telephone interviewThis collection is related to the following studies: National Survey of American Life: Multi-Generational and Caribbean Cross-Section Studies, Guyana, Jamaica, [United States], 2004-2005 (ICPSR 36406); National Survey of American Life - Adolescent Supplement (NSAL-A), 2001-2004 (ICPSR 36380); National Survey of American Life Self-Administered Questionnaire (NSAL-SAQ), February 2001-June 2003 (ICPSR 27121); and Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES), 2001-2003 [United States] (ICPSR 20240). For similar study information and characteristics, please refer to all four studies.