The medical officer obtained information on aspects of medical history, similar to that obtained from parents. He or she recorded the results of test of near and distant vision, hearing, speech, and motor co-ordination and measured the child's height and weight. In the course of a systematic examination, results were recorded of any findings relating to skin conditions, hernias, respiratory tract infections, and any defects in the cardiovascular system, the alimentary tract, the urogenital system, bones and joints, and the neuromuscular system. At eleven and sixteen, the medical officers assessed the child's pubertal development. At each age teachers completed a standardised instrument to provide a description of the child's behaviour in school.
Unreferenced test are unpublished, but copies are available on request.
At eleven this was relatively brief, and contained questions on leisure activities and attitudes to school. Each child was also asked to write a short composition on the life he imagined he would be leading at the age of 25. Further information See also entries for Sources and methods of data collection and the Summary of data collected for further details of methods of data collection and the content of the NCDS sweeps. Copies of questionnaires, other survey instruments and supporting documentation are available from the NCDS User Support Group .