The survey gathers information from students about their activities, opinions, behaviors and experiences. Students answer questions on various topics, including school climate, bullying, out-of-school activities, healthy behaviors (such as nutrition and physical activity), emotional health, substance use, and connections with family and school. There are three versions of the survey: Level I for fifth graders, Level II for eighth graders, and Level III for ninth and 11th graders. Adolescents in alternative learning settings and juvenile correctional facilities also complete the Level III survey. While the surveys are similar, some questions are simplified for younger students, and certain topics are adjusted or omitted to ensure developmental appropriateness and manage the overall length.

 

The MSS includes questions from a variety of sources. Major contributors include the Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey conducted by the University of Minnesota in the late 1980s, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted biennially by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Monitoring the Future Survey, and the California Healthy Kids Survey. Questions derived from these surveys benefit from extensive validity and reliability studies. Additionally, the research team and advisory committees have developed questions, particularly in areas where few model questions exist.

 

While we have not conducted rigorous content validity testing of the entire Minnesota Student Survey, we periodically invite volunteer groups of youth to test new versions and provide feedback. Most questions remain consistent across administrations, but some are updated with revised wording or response options. New questions may be added, and others may be removed over time if they are deemed no longer relevant.