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Studies

Palmore (1975): study ZZ East-West pairs 1959

Publication

Author(s):
Palmore, E.B.
Title:
The Honorable Elders: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Aging in Japan.
Source:
Duke University Press, 1975, Durham, USA

Investigation

Public
21+ aged, general public, Japan and USA, 1959-1962
Survey name
INT-Cantril World Survey
Sample
Probability sample (unspecified)
Respondents
N = 2521
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Structured interviews.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Respondent was first asked to describe "your wishes and hopes for your future" and then to describe "your fears and worries about your future".  He was then presented with a picture of a ladder numbered from zero on the bottom  to nine on the top rung. Respondent was asked to suppose "that the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom represents the worst life for you". Where on the ladder do you feel you stand at the present time?"
[    9  ]   best possible life
[    8  ]
[    7  ]
[    6  ]
[    5  ]
[    4  ]
[    3  ]
[    2  ]
[    1  ]
[    0  ]  worst possible life

Name: Cantril's Present Life Ladder rating (modified version)
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-9-b
Author's label:
Life satisfaction
Remarks:
Japan: Ms = 5.2     USA: Ms = 6.6
Page in publication:
117

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Age Young versus old