print

Studies

Wright & Staw (1999): study US 1994 /1

Publication

Author(s):
Wright, T.A.; Staw, B.M.
Title:
Affect and Favorable Work Outcomes: Two Longitudinal Tests of the Happy - Productive Worker Thesis.
Source:
Journal of Organizational Behavior, 1999, Vol. 20, 1 - 23

Investigation

Public
Social services staff personel; USA, 199?, followed 1 year
Sample
Non-probability chunk sample
Respondents
N = 78
Non Response
26
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Work performance rated by supervisor.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report 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

Response 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
Classification:
A-BB-u-mq-v-3-e
Author's label:
Affective disposition
Remarks:
T1: M=3,6 SD=1,3 N= 63;  T2: M=3,4 SD=1,4 N=71
Page in publication:
13
Error estimates:
Cronbach alpha T1: 0.67, T2: 0.72
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
3.60 8.60
SD:
1.30 -
Full text:
Self report 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  ashamed
I  guilty
J  hostile
K  excited
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 J)/10
Positive affect score (PAS): (K to T)/10
Affect Balance Score  (ABS): PAS - NAS


Name: Watson et al's PANAS ('past week' version)
Classification:
A-BW-cw-mq-v-5-d
Author's label:
Positive and negative mood
Remarks:
Positive affect subscale:   M= 3,1   SD= 0,6
Negative affect subscale: M= 2,0   SD = 0,8
Page in publication:
14
Error estimates:
Cronbach alpha positive mood: 0,86, negative mood: 0,89
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -4 - 4 On range 0-10
Mean:
1.10 -
SD:
- -
Full text:
Self report 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  ashamed
I  guilty
J  hostile
K  excited
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 J)/10
Positive affect score (PAS): (K to T)/10
Affect Balance Score  (ABS): PAS - NAS

Name: Watson et al's PANAS ('in general' version)
Classification:
A-BW-g-mq-v-5-g
Author's label:
Positive and negative affectivity
Remarks:
positive affect subscale:  M =  3,2   SD = 0,7
negative affect subscale: M = 1,8   SD = 0,7
Page in publication:
14
Error estimates:
Cronbach alpha: positive affectivity : 0,91; negative affectivity : 0,89
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -4 - 4 On range 0-10
Mean:
1.50 -
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Composite rated performance Change in work-performance
Later work-performance
Supervisor rating of job performance
Support Later work-performance Goal emphasis Later goal emphasis Team Building Later social functioning at work Work facilitation Later creativeness Global rated performance Earlier work-performance
Supervisor rating of job performance
Positive and negative mood Earlier mood-pattern
Current typical moods
Positive and negative affectivity (PANAS) Later mood-pattern
Current typical moods