Findings on happiness in Lounsbury et al. (1979): study US Tennessee 1975

Publication
Author(s)Lounsbury, J.W.; Shields, M.; Sundstrom, E.
TitleThe Relationship of Avowed Life Satisfaction to Public Acceptance of and Expectations about a Nuclear Power Plant.
SourceJournal of Community Psychology, 1979, Vol. 7, 298 - 304
URLhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1520-6629(197910)7:4%3C298::AID-JCOP2290070404%3E3.0.CO;2-M/pdf
Investigation
PublicAdults, general public, Hartsville/Trousdale County, Tennessee, USA, 1975
Collect period8
Survey nameNot available
SampleNot available
 Simple random sample consisting of 81% of a random sample of respondents to an earlier panel design survey (i.e. january 1975). 51% of the respondents were female, 79% were employed and 81% had purchased their own homes. Median age was 46 and median number of grades was 11 years.
Respondents N =288
Non ResponseNot available
AssesmentInterview: face-to-face
 Highly structured
Happiness measure(s) used
Full textSelfreport on single question: Here is a picture of a ladder. Suppose we say that the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom represents the worst possible life for you. Where on the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time? [ 10 ] best possible life [ 9 ] [ 8 ] [ 7 ] [ 6 ] [ 5 ] [ 4 ] [ 3 ] [ 2 ] [ 1 ] [ 0 ] worst possible life Preceded by 1) open questions about what the respondent imagines as the best possible life and the worst possible life. 2) ratings on the ladder of one's life five years ago and where on the ladder one expects to stand five years from now. Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating of life (original)
ClassificationC-BW-c-sq-l-11-a
Author's labelAvowed life satisfaction
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range 0 - 10On range 0 - 10
Mean6.40
Standard deviation1.90

Correlational findings

Author's label Our subject description
Acceptance of a nuclear plant near townshow  Attitudes to local political issues
Acceptance of a nuclear plant near townshow  Attitudes to specific political issues, also classified as above ↑
Consistency of attitude to nuclear plant in townshow  Attitudes to local political issues
Consistency of attitude to nuclear plant in townshow  Attitudes to specific political issues, also classified as above ↑
Consistency of attitude to nuclear plant in townshow  Attitudinal consistency, also classified as above ↑
Perceived effects ofnuclear plants new in townshow  Attitudes to local political issues