Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Thank you so much for your interest in the ADVANCE Study. Below are some answers to a few of our most
frequently asked questions.
General
The ADVANCE study is aimed at understanding the underlying social, psychological, and biological risk factors in adolescents. Our goal is to survey around 3,000 teenagers from the class of 2024 across Southern California for 4 years in an effort to collect data on the causes of teen social-behavioral health issues.
Highly trained USC researchers will administer the ADVANCE survey in the classroom on a bi-yearly basis; they will remain available for questions and support during the class period. The survey will be administered either remotely or in-person depending on school and local guidance. Absent students may take the survey online on their own at a later time.
On average, the time it takes to complete the survey is around 40-60 minutes. However, this time varies depending on how you answer these questions.
For more information, feel free to explore our ADVANCE tab on the website. If you have any other questions, feel free to email us at advstudy@usc.edu or call/text us at (323)-388-5504.
Students
The surveys are anonymous. Your answers are protected by law and will not be shared with anyone or connected to your name. Instead, information from the survey is connected to a record number. We also only report trends when we share results from the study. For example, we report “most participants reported this”. No one will know how you individually answered a question.
The results from this study support research into causes of teen social-behavioral health issues and trends in social, psychological, and biological health and as well as risk facts in adolescents.
No. If a question makes you feel uncomfortable, you can skip it.
The ADVANCE study started in 2020, and 9th grade students (the class of 2024) were invited to participate across 5 public high schools in the L.A. area and 10 additional high schools in California.
Students are awarded $5 gift cards for submitting their consent forms. Classes are given a pizza party if 90% or more of their class submits their forms. Students can also be entered into a prize drawing every semester for completing their survey.
Teachers
No, we ask that teachers be present but are not expected to assist with data collection. If data collection is happening remotely, teachers might have to facilitate more than usual.
Parents
No, all answers are private and protected by law.
No, your child may decline to take the survey during its administration. Additionally, you or your child can decide to stop being in the study at any time.
