The Texas Youth Tobacco Survey has been conducted in Texas school districts since 2008. The survey is conducted by The Bush School of Public Service and Administration (PSAA) at Texas A&M University on behalf of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
A statewide survey is conducted every other year. The YTS provides data about students in grades 6-12 with respect to: prevalence of tobacco use (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, flavored cigars, and e-cigarettes), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), minors’ access and enforcement, knowledge and attitudes, media and advertising, school curriculum, and tobacco use cessation.
1
Why is the survey being done?
Funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) is specifically designed to enhance the capacity to design, implement, and evaluate youth tobacco prevention and control policies and activities across the State. The YTS provides data for students in grades 6-12 with respect to: prevalence of tobacco use (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, flavored cigars and cigarettes, and e-cigarettes), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), minors’ access and enforcement, knowledge and attitudes, media and advertising, school curriculum, and tobacco use cessation.
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2
How much will the survey cost?
Materials will be free for all schools that are chosen in the YTS sample. Schools will be provided with monetary compensation, in the form of a $300 mini grant, for time and effort involved in survey administration. This payment will be made when survey administration is complete and all materials are returned.
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3
What grades are included?
The YTS will be administered to students in grades 6 through 12.
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4
What formats are available for the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey?
The YTS is offered in two formats: (1) the traditional paper version where a student darkens an oval for a corresponding answer and (2) an online web version. Both versions are identical in the number and types of questions. The two versions are offered in English and Spanish.
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5
What is the sample size?
It is estimated that approximately 7,500 students in grades 6-12 will participate in the 2027 Texas Youth Tobacco Survey. Schools will be asked to survey a maximum of between 3 and 6 classrooms per grade (depending on enrollment) in grades 6 through 12, or all students if the school has fewer classes per grade.
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6
How long will it take to fill out the questionnaire?
One class period will be needed for administration of the self-administered questionnaire. It will take approximately 10 minutes for the survey administrator to distribute survey materials and read directions to the students. It will then take approximately 35 minutes for students to record their responses. The questionnaire contains approximately 39 questions.
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7
Are sensitive questions asked?
No, all questions on the survey relate to student’s attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge about tobacco use, intent to use, exposure to tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco marketing/advertising.
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8
Is the survey voluntary? What if school districts, schools, or students do not choose to participate?
Participation in the YTS is voluntary. However, to develop accurate baseline estimates of tobacco use and intent to use tobacco among adolescents, participation rates must be high. Selected schools cannot be replaced. The goal is to achieve 90 to 95 percent participation by selected schools.
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9
Is student participation anonymous? How is student privacy protected?
Survey administration procedures are designed to protect student privacy and allow for anonymous participation. Students submit their questionnaire with no personal identifiers, and place them all into one envelope. Published reports will not include names of participating students.
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10
How are students selected for participation?
For the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey to be administered in your school, TAMU project staff will need to randomly select classes for participation in the study. The random selection process will allow us to generate survey results that are representative of the student population within your school. Detailed instructions for completing this master list will be provided once a school signs up to participate in the survey.
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11
Are surveys and parent information forms available in Spanish?
Yes, limited numbers of Spanish surveys will be available, and the “Information Sheet” will be available in Spanish as well. To receive these surveys, schools will need to send a request to TAMU stating how many each school needs.
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13
Where can additional information be obtained?
If you have questions or need further information, please feel free to contact TAMU project staff directly. You may direct inquiries to:
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