Wisconsin Online Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has recently made significant improvements to their confidential Wisconsin Online Youth Risk Behavior Survey (OYRBS) system. Wisconsin school districts, private schools, tribes, and county agencies (i.e., public health, human services, 51.42 boards) can use the system to gather student self-reported data on health risk behaviors, attitudes and perceptions, and protective factors. This type of data can be effectively used to assess the need for, and monitor the impacts of, risk behavior prevention programs serving school-aged youth. School districts can use the data to monitor the impact of their Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program, and the data can be used to demonstrate the need for a prevention program to administration, parents, other community members, and potential funders.

DPI provides at no cost:

• A web-based survey system to create and schedule voluntary, anonymous, online student surveys at the school, school district, county, or CESA level.
• Valid and reliable questions to measure student behaviors and attitudes related to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; weapons and violence; intentional and unintentional injuries; depression and suicide; risky sexual behaviors; nutrition; and physical activity. In addition, many supplemental questions are available to measure other health behaviors and protective factors.
• Separate, but closely related, questions for middle school and high school students.
• Detailed frequency tables and graphs that can be disaggregated by age, grade level, gender, race/ethnicity, and academic grades. Results can be printed or captured electronically for creating reports and making presentations.
• Monitoring of trends at the question level (e.g., binge drinking, physical fighting).
• A dataset and codebook that can be used for further data analysis and interpretation.
• A guide to assist in the administration of a local online survey to include survey design guidance, checklists, timelines, sample letters, and related materials.
• Comparable results at the state and national level through DPI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The successful administration of a local student survey often relies on partnerships with internal and external staff and agencies. Partners that have experience in surveying, such as pupil services staff, school AODA coordinators, public health and human services agencies, and CESAs, can help with coordinating, designing, and implementing a survey. In addition, these partners often have experience analyzing and using data. Another positive benefit of these partnerships is the elimination of multiple surveys because the survey system can collect data on multiple risk behaviors, protective factors, attitudes and perceptions. Reducing the number of surveys will decrease the burden placed on schools, staff, and students.

Those who are utilizing the Wisconsin Online YRBS need to provide:

• A project coordinator (i.e. survey administrator) dedicated to manage the survey administration process. Planning and preparation time of two to four months is recommended.
• Computer labs or a similar setting with a high speed internet connection to support the survey process.

Online YRBS:  Webcast and Login

To consider whether the Wisconsin Online Youth Risk Behavior Survey system will meet your needs, please first consult A Guide to Conducting the Online YRBS Survey and view the webcast Online Youth Risk Behavior Survey 101. To access the Online YRBS survey administration site go to http://yrbs.learningpt.org/adminlogin.aspx. If you are a first time user you will need to register and create a login account. The Wisconsin Online Youth Behavior Survey System complements, but does not replace, the statewide Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is conducted every two years in a random sample of public high schools. The latter provides results valid only at the state level.

Online YRBS Resources and Templates:

• A Guide to Conducting the Online YRBS Survey
• Online YRBS Administration Checklist
• Passive Parental Permission Form
• Active Parental Permission Form
• Youth Risk Behavior Survey Parent and Student FAQ
• Youth Risk Behavior Survey School Building FAQ
• Assurance of Confidentiality of Survey Data
• School Building Confirmation Letter
• Script for Survey Administrators
• ESEA Bulletin: Student Privacy

Tips to Improve Your Online YRBS Experience:

• Approaching District Administrators, School Boards, and Teachers
• Enhancing the Quality of Your Data
• Student Sampling
• Protecting Your Students' Privacy
• Time-Saving Strategies and Planning Tips
• How to Create Detailed Tables with Your Data

Questions? Send them to wionlineyrbs@dpi.wi.gov or call (608)266-8960.

For questions about this information, contact Brian J. Weaver (608) 266-7921

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:34 AM