Because this paper relies on comparisons between responses to questions about training by two different cohorts, it is important to compare the NLS-OC and NLSY training questions to one another. In general, both cohorts are asked similar batteries of questions about training after they have been asked about their formal schooling.
The NLS-OC survey usually begins its series of questions about training with a principal question:
"Other than regular schooling, since {date of last interview}, have you taken any training courses or educational programs of any kind, either on the job or elsewhere?" [13]
The NLSY cohort was asked the following question between 1979 and 1986:
"Besides the training we've already talked about, since {date of last interview}, have you received training from any other source, such as the kinds of places listed on this card? For example, training in a business college, nurses program, an apprenticeship program, a vocational-technical institute, or any of these other kinds of sources?" [14]
Beginning in 1988, NLSY respondents were asked, [15]
"Since {date of last interview}, did you attend a training program or any on-the-job training designed to help people find a job, improve job skills, or learn a new job?"
Beyond these initial questions about training, both the NLS-OC and NLSY surveys ask respondents about the source and duration of training; however, between 1979 and 1986, the NLSY survey skipped most questions about training if respondents answered the following question with "No":
"Did you receive training from any of these sources for one month or more?"
As a result, the only information which is consistently available regarding all training for both cohorts across all years is (1) whether or not a respondent participated in training, and (2) whether that training lasted one month or more. So, for all respondents, I was able to construct measures of the following dimensions of training: incidence, whether the respondent ever participated in a training spell lasting more than one month, and the number of episodes of training a respondent reported. I was also able to measure the source of training for all training episodes lasting in excess of one month. Therefore, I was able to limit analyses of the effects of training from different sources to those respondents in "long-term" training (i.e., training lasting more than one month).
[13] In some years, respondents are asked about training since the particular month and year during which the last interview was fielded. In other years, the phrase "Other than regular schooling . . ." is omitted. In those years, the question is asked only of those not enrolled in school since the date of last interview.
[14] "Besides the training we've already talked about . . ." refers to batteries of questions about military training and government provided training (e.g., CETA and JTPA). I ignored the former training and included the latter in the measures of training I employ here.
[15] The 1987 survey did not ask about training.