Primary Research on Young People
The 7,616 young people recruited into the SHARE study at the age of 13 or 14 were representative of 14 year olds across the whole of Scotland, in terms of social class and family structure, according to 1991 Census data. Following up this cohort to the age of 20 therefore offers a unique opportunity to investigate the key social factors that shape young people's sexual and reproductive behaviour, their relationships, sexual histories and sexual risk taking. The SHARE project is therefore not only a rigorous evaluation of the SHARE sex education programme, but also involves primary research on young people's sexual and reproductive behaviour and relationships. The longitudinal design has the advantages of being able to establish chronology and minimise problems of recall, determining the antecedents as well as the correlates of particular sexual and reproductive outcomes.