Survey Content

Types of Questions on the Illinois Youth Survey:

  • Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
  • Beliefs about drug use
  • Health and nutritional behaviors
  • Feelings about school
  • Family support and rules about alcohol use

Survey forms

To view PDF proofs of each printed survey*, click on the appropriate link below:

Printed forms of survey booklets
English Español
2016 IYS - 8th Grade 2016 IYS - Para 8° Grado
2016 IYS - High School 2016 IYS - Para Bachillerato

 
* Do not attempt to print and use these forms for surveying students.  Registered schools will be shipped printed copies.

Survey questions by topic

To view the content of the 2016 IYS survey compared to the 2014 IYS sorted by topic, click on the appropriate link below:

Adding Local Questions

Schools that participate in the Illinois Youth Survey have the option of adding questions to their local survey.  For information about adding questions, please see our creating additional questions page.  Parents should contact their school to view additional questions used on their survey.


Survey Validity

Studies of surveys similar to the IYS that check substance use responses against actual drug tests have shown substantial validity. In addition, the patterns of use revealed by the IYS are consistent with other measures such as differential treatment rates for different substances. Although the survey provides valid statewide estimates of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use, the data collection process does have limitations. Since the surveys are conducted in school settings, the sample does not include youth who are chronically absent, in alternative school settings, or are not enrolled in a school (including those who have dropped out of school). In addition, IYS survey administration is dependent on an individual school's willingness to voluntarily participate. Finally, as with all self-report surveys, there is a possibility that respondents may not be truthful in their answers. Data collection processes are closely monitored to address these limitations whenever possible and to screen for inconsistencies in the self-report data.


Perhaps one of the most important things a school can do to ensure validity is to follow the survey administration instructions. Most importantly, the instructions highlight ways to make students comfortable with the fact that the survey cannot be traced back to them.