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Studies

Smith (1979): study US 1974 /4

Publication

Author(s):
Smith, T.W.
Title:
Happiness: Time Trends, Seasonal Variations, Intersurvey Differences, and Other Mysteries.
Source:
Social Psychology Quarterly, 1979, Vol. 42, 18 - 30

Investigation

Public
16+ aged, general public, United States, 1974
Survey name
US-CNS-12
Sample
Probability sample (unspecified)
Respondents
N = 656
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Taken all together, how would you say things are these days?   Would you say that you are....?
3  very happy
2  pretty happy
1  not too happy
Classification:
O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa
Page in publication:
22
Observed distribution
Frequencies
1: 12%,   2: 55%,   3: 33%   (total 100%)
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 3 On range 0-10
Mean:
2.21 7.25
SD:
0.64 1.66
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
Author's label:
Affect
Remarks:
PA: 3,26; NA: 1,46
Page in publication:
26
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -5 - 5 On range 0-10
Mean:
1.79 6.79
SD:
- -