Youth Attitude Tracking Study: Historical Evolution and Characteristics

摘要

This technical note summarizes for the first time the details of the evolution of the Youth Attitude Tracking Study (YATS) into its present form. It also discusses and presents comparative propensity data for all the administrations of YATS. YATS has become the recognized principal source of data regarding the propensity of the military-age population for joining the military. Changes made in the Fall 1983 survey merited the redesignation of the survey as YATS II. Distinguishing YATS II from its predecessor are expanded market coverage and increased methodological and statistical rigor. The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has retraced the history, by necessity, as part of an effort to ensure the comparability of data in adjacent data collections. The purpose of this paper is to summarize in one place the details of the evolution of YATS into its present form. The last section of this paper discusses and presents comparative propensity data for all the administrations of YATS ina manner that adjusts and compensates for the conversion of YATS into YATS II, as well as previous changes. The changes have been made due to changing requirements of both the policy and operational recruiting communities in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Services. Other changes are a result of budgetary constraints.