This variable is only available in MAP, MARS, and LATC.

Total cognitive resources measures the presence of materials that support cognitive activity (e.g., encyclopedia, library card, magazine subscriptions) in the home at the ages of 12 and 40. The variable is measured using 16 questions issued at baseline.

Participants are asked to indicate whether they had each of seven items available and to estimate the number of books in the home at age 12 and at age 40. Responses for questions 8 and 16 are adjusted to range from 0 to 1. The overall score for total cognitive resources ranges from 0 to 16 and represents the sum of values for the 16 questions. Higher scores indicate greater access to materials.

Participants are asked the following questions:

1. Did your family subscribe to a daily newspaper when you were 12?
2. Did your family subscribe to any magazines when you were 12?
3. Did your family have a dictionary when you were 12?
4. Did your family have an encyclopedia when you were 12?
5. Did your family have a world atlas when you were 12?
6. Did your family have a globe when you were 12?
7. Did you or a member of your family have a library card when you were 12?
8. When you were 12, about how many books do you think were in your family home?
9. Did you or a member of your family subscribe to a daily newspaper when you were 40?
10. Did you or a member of your family subscribe to any magazines when you were 40?
11. Did your home have a dictionary when you were 40?
12. Did your home have an encyclopedia when you were 40?
13. Did your home have a world atlas when you were 40?
14. Did your home have a globe when you were 40?
15. Did you or a member of your family have a library card when you were 40?
16. About how many books do you think were in your family home when you were 40?

Response choices for questions 1-7 and 9-15:

Response choices for questions 8 and 16: