Findings on happiness in Wright & Staw (1999): study US 1994 /1

Publication
Author(s)Wright, T.A.; Staw, B.M.
TitleAffect and Favorable Work Outcomes: Two Longitudinal Tests of the Happy - Productive Worker Thesis.
SourceJournal of Organizational Behavior, 1999, Vol. 20, 1 - 23
Investigation
PublicSocial services staff personel; USA, 199?, followed 1 year
 Data were collected at 2 periodes: T1: initial and T2: approximately 1 year later. Affective disposition was measured at T1 and T2 (N=72) with the Berkman scale, and at T2 with the PANAS scale (N=53). The state of affect with PANAS scale was measured at T1 (N=43). Measures of composite performance was available at T1 (N=62) and T2 (N=64). A global measure of rated performance was available at T1 (N=64). Years of data gathering not reported
Survey nameNot available
SampleNon-probability chunk sample
 Included were employees who remained within the department and for whom pleasures of affect or activation-based affect were available as predictors of rated performance. Over half having a Masters degree or equivalent, with the remaining employees having a Bachelors degree. Ages ranged from 24 to 60 years, the mean age was 39,7 years (SD=7,5). Job tenure ranged from 1 to 26 years, the mean job tenure was 10,3 years (SD =5,8).
Respondents N =78
Non Response26
AssesmentQuestionnaire: paper
 Work performance rated by supervisor.
General remarksSimilar studies reported in WRIGH 1999/1, WRIGH 2002, WRIGH 2004/1, WRIGH 2004/2
Happiness measure(s) used
Full textSelfreport on 8 questions: Here is a list that describes some of the ways people feel at different times. How often do you feel each of these ways? A On top of the world B Very lonely or remote from other people C Particularly excited or interested in something D Pleased about having accomplished something E Bored F Depressed or very unhappy G So restless that you could not sit long in a chair H Vaguely uneasy about something without knowing why Reponse options: 0 never 1 sometimes 3 often Scoring: PA = A+C+D (range 0-9) NA = B+E+F+G+H (range 0-15) ABS = PA-NA (range 1-7) Name: Index of Psychological Wellbeing
ClassificationA-BB-u-mq-v-3-e
Author's labelAffective disposition
Page in publication13
RemarksT1: M=3,6 SD=1,3 N= 63; T2: M=3,4 SD=1,4 N=71
Error estimatesCronbach alpha T1: 0.67, T2: 0.72
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range 1 - 7On range 0 - 10
Mean3.608.60
Standard deviation1.30

Full textSelfreport on 20 questions. This scale consists of a number of words that describe different feelings and emotions. Read each item and mark the appropriate answer in the space next to that word. Indicate to what extend you felt this way during the past week?: A nervous B distressed C afraid D jittery E irritable F upset G scared H exiled I ashamed J guilty K hostile L active M determined N inspired O enthusiastic P alert Q attentive R proud S strong T interested Answer options: 1 very slightly or not at all 2 a little 3 moderately 4 quite a bit 5 extremely Negative affect score (NAS): (A to K)/10 Positive affect score (PAS): (L to T)/10 Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS - NAS Name: Watson et al's PANAS ('past week' version)
ClassificationA-BW-cw-mq-v-5-d
Author's labelPositive and negative mood
Page in publication14
RemarksPositive affect subscale: M= 3,1 SD= 0,6 Negative affect subscale: M= 2,0 SD = 0,8
Error estimatesCronbach alpha positive mood: 0,86, negative mood: 0,89
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range -4 - 4On range 0 - 10
Mean1.10
Standard deviation

Full textSelfreport on 20 questions. This scale consists of a number of words that describe different feelings and emotions. Read each item and mark the appropriate answer in the space next to that word. Indicate to what extend you generally feel this way, that is, how you feel on average? A nervous B distressed C afraid D jittery E irritable F upset G scared H exiled I ashamed J guilty K hostile L active M determined N inspired O enthusiastic P alert Q attentive R proud S strong T interested Answer options: 1 very slightly or not at all 2 a little 3 moderately 4 quite a bit 5 very much Negative affect score (NAS): A to K Positive affect score (PAS): L to T Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS - NAS Name: Watson et al's PANAS ('in general' version)
ClassificationA-BW-g-mq-v-5-g
Author's labelPositive and negative affectivity
Page in publication14
Remarkspositive affect subscale: M = 3,2 SD = 0,7 negative affect subscale: M = 1,8 SD = 0,7
Error estimatesCronbach alpha: positive affectivity : 0,91; negative affectivity : 0,89
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range -4 - 4On range 0 - 10
Mean1.50
Standard deviation

Correlational findings

Author's labelSubject Code
Finding		Subject description
Composite rated performanceW06aa02Change in work-performance
Composite rated performanceW06aa03Later work-performance, also classified as above ↑
Global rated performanceW06aa02Change in work-performance
Global rated performanceW06aa01Earlier work-performance, also classified as above ↑
Goal emphasisW06aa03Later work-performance
Positive and negative affectivity (PANAS)M15acCurrent typical moods
Positive and negative affectivity (PANAS)M15aa03Later mood-pattern, also classified as above ↑
Positive and negative moodM15acCurrent typical moods
Positive and negative moodM15aa01Earlier mood-pattern, also classified as above ↑
SupportW06aa03Later work-performance
Team BuildingW06aa03Later work-performance
Work facilitationW06aa03Later work-performance