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Studies

Gall et al. (1997): study US 1971

Publication

Author(s):
Gall, T.L.; Evans, D.R.; Howard, J.
Title:
The Retirement Adjustment Process: Changes in the Well-Being of Male Retirees across Time.
Source:
Journal of Gerontology, 1997, Vol.52b, 110 - 117

Investigation

Public
University students, USA, 1971
Sample
Non-probability chunk sample
Respondents
N = 86
Non Response
-
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
And content analysis

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question, repeated every evening before retiring during 3 weeks (experience sampling).

"On the average, how happy or unhappy did you feel today....?"
1   Extremely unhappy. Utterly depressed. Completely down.
2   Very unhappy. Depressed. Spirits very low.
3   Pretty unhappy. Somewhat 'blue'. Spirits down.
4   Mildly unhappy. Just a little low.
5   Barely unhappy. Just this side of neutral.
6   Barely happy. Just this side of neutral.
7   Mildly happy. Feeling fairly good and somewhat cheerful.
8   Pretty happy. Spirits high. Feeling good.
9   Very happy. Feeling really good. Elated.
10  Extremely happy. Feeling ecstatic, joyous, fantastic.

Name: Wessman & Ricks' `Elation - Depression Scale" (adapted version)
Classification:
A-ARE-md-sqr-v-10-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Error estimates:
External congruent validity: in pilot study the happiness scale produced a much greater range of responding than did the orginal Wessman & Ricks scale. The scales intercorrelated +.93 (001).
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 10 On range 0-10
Mean:
6.80 6.40
SD:
1.15 -
Full text:
Self report on three questions:

'On the average, what percentage of the time d you feel….…' (percentages must add up to 100%)
1  happy
2  unhappy
3  neutral

Name: Fordyce % happy scale
Variant: % unhappy
Classification:
A-TH-g-mq-th%-101-ab
Author's label:
Daily mood
Error estimates:
Equivalence: % happy mood x % unhappy mood : r = -.67 (.01) % happy mood x % in neutral mood : r = -.72 (.01) % unhappy mood x % neutral mood : r = -.02 (ns)

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Mood variability, day to day Variability of affects Number of happy moods per day A-AB by A-ARE
A-ARE by A-ARE
Number of unhappy moods per day A-ARE by A-ARE
Feeling down (vs not)
Relative affect balance_B A-AB by A-ARE
A-ARE by A-ARE
Male sex Sexe: male (vs female) Relative affect balance_A A-AB by A-ARE
A-ARE by A-ARE
Absolute affect balance A-AB by A-ARE
A-ARE by A-ARE
Instrumental values Instrumental values Terminal values Instrumental values Personal values_B General value-principles
Hedonic values
Self-development (self-actualizing values)
Nurturance values
Achievement values
Personal values_A Social values
Educational values
Value dimensions General value-principles Ways to live General value-principles
Hedonic values
Day of week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) Day of the week 'Special' day Special day