This technical report documents the methodology of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) base year survey of eighth graders through the 1992 second followup survey of high school students and dropouts. Chapter 1 begins with an overview and history of the NELS:88 and its database, Chapter 2 contains a description of the data collection instruments. Base year through second followup sample design and weighting procedures are discussed in chapter 3, and chapter 4 describes data collection procedures, schedules, and results. Chapter 5 describes data control and preparation activities, and chapter 6 contains recommendations for future studies. The 18 appendixes contain supplemental information, including Spanish versions of the student and parent questionnaires, completion and nonresponse tables, forms used in conducting the survey, and discussions of the data files. (Contains 10 figures and 22 tables.) (SLD)