<html>
<head>
<script type="text/JavaScript">
function ch(elem)
{
var aop = elem.getElementsByTagName('option');
for(var i = 0; i<aop.length; i++)
if(aop[i].selected)
alert(aop[i].innerHTML);
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<select onchange="ch(this)">
<option>1989</option>
<option>1990</option>
<option>1991</option>
<option>1992</option>
</select>
</body>
</html>