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Studies

Veenhoven (2000g): study ZZ 1980

Publication

Author(s):
Veenhoven, R.
Title:
Well-Being in the Welfare State: Level not Higher, Distribution not More Equitable.
Source:
Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 2000, Vol. 2, 91 - 125

Investigation

Public
Adults, general public, 41 nations, 1980-1990
Sample
Probability sample (unspecified)
Respondents
N = 50000
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Full text:
Self report on single question:

All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as-a-whole these days?
1   dissatisfied
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10  satisfied
Classification:
O-SLW-c-sq-n-10-a
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Taking all things together, would you say you are.....?
4  very happy
3  quite happy
2  not very happy
1  not at all happy.
Classification:
O-HL-u-sq-v-4-a

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Size of state welfare budget Social security in nation Increase/decrease in state welfare Change social security in nation