Research Design of the Estonian Longitudinal Study of Youth (ELSY)

This research paper provides an overview of the Research Design for the Estonian Longitudinal Study of Youth (ELSY), with a focus on developing the conceptual and methodological framework for ELSY based on best practices in longitudinal life course research on youth transitions. Conducting a large-scale longitudinal study like ELSY requires thorough preparation, including a well-constructed conceptual and methodological framework, as well as carefully planned and supervised data collection and management. The framework for ELSY was developed by incorporating best practices in the field, gathered through knowledge transfer and expertise exchange during a series of workshops, open seminars, team meetings, and individual consultations held as part of the YouthLife project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme under Grant Agreement number 952083.