Commonly Asked Questions

Why do you keep calling me?

The WLS is a unique and important study which has contributed new knowledge about people's lives for many decades. Our success grows with every completed interview. We need your participation, and we are grateful for the contribution of your time and for your trust in sharing your life with us. We would not call you if the WLS were not a very important study.

What is this study about?
Are you advertising or selling something?
Can't someone else do this?
What is the 'UW Survey Center' and why are they calling me?
What if my schedule won't let me do the interview all at once?
Can I be sure my answers will be confidential?
Are you sure I am part of the study?
Why is the interview being done over the telephone?
Why doesn't the University of Wisconsin Survey Center show up on my caller-id phone?
I'm a member of Wisconsin's "Class of 1957." Why haven't you called me yet?

What is this study about?

The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study occasionally surveys the life experiences -- education, family, careers, retirement and health -- of more than 10,000 members of the "Class of '57," (students who were seniors in all of Wisconsin's high schools during 1957), and of many of their sisters and brothers. Over the years the data gleaned from these surveys have contributed to hundreds of research studies, resulting in greater understanding of people's health and behavior.

What makes the WLS unique is the generous, continuing participation of the members of the class of 1957 and their families over many decades. They have given Wisconsin and the nation in-depth information about people's lives that no other study in the world can match.

Click here for more information about the WLS and its history.

Are you advertising or selling something?

Absolutely not. The WLS is a research study, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and supported by our nation's leading health research agency, the National Institutes of Health. For more than four decades, the WLS has been one of the most important and best-known social-scientific studies in the world. The WLS has never sold anything to anyone, and it never will.

Can't someone else do this?

No, because no one else can speak for you. You were selected when the study began, and no one else can take your place. If we don't get to interview you, our picture of the "Class of 1957" remains incomplete. We need to talk to everyone in the original WLS sample.

What is the 'University of Wisconsin Survey Center' and why are they calling me?

The surveys for the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study are being conducted by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center -- a department within the University that performs survey research for numerous university, government and non-profit organizations. As a respondent, your phone interviewer will identify him or herself as a member of the UW Survey Center calling in regard to the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. For more information about the UW Survey Center, visit their website.

What if my schedule won't let me do the interview all at once?

The interview can be done in parts and at times convenient to you. We are very happy to accommodate your schedule. If you feel tired or are not feeling well during the interview, we can call you back another time. Or, if you prefer, you may call us toll-free at (866) 891-2492.

Can I be sure my answers will be confidential?

Yes. Once the interview is over, your name and all other potentially identifying information is separated from your answers to our survey questions. Your answers are then combined with the answers of others, which are used for statistical analysis only. Identifying information about you will be protected legally by a Certificate of Confidentiality from the federal government, and it will never be disclosed to anyone unless you ask us to do so.

Are you sure I am part of the study?

Forty-five years is a long time, and it has been almost ten years since our last round of surveys. Some people may not remember being in the study, especially if they missed the last surveys in the early 1990s. When we talk to you we will verify that you are the same person we have talked to in earlier years.

Why is the interview being done over the telephone?

It is the most cost-effective and confidential way to collect information. Only the interviewer can hear the questions and your answers. Many of you will also receive a written survey that asks additional questions, mainly about your health.

Why doesn't the University of Wisconsin Survey Center or Wisconsin Longitudinal Study show up on my caller-id phone?

We may not show up on all caller-id systems with an identifying name and number. We are working to correct this problem. Please feel free to contact us toll-free at 1-866-891-2492.

I'm a member of Wisconsin's "Class of 1957." Why haven't you called me yet?

There are two possible reasons why we have not yet contacted you. Because there are almost 10,000 study participants, it takes us more than a year to talk with everyone. Also, only one in three members of the "Class of '57" have been asked to join the study. Thus, about two-thirds of the class will never receive a call from us.