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Studies

Helliwell & Huang (2013): study CA 2011

Publication

Author(s):
Helliwell, J.F.; Huang, H.
Title:
Comparing the Happiness Effects of Real and On-Line Friends.
Source:
NBER Working Paper, 2013, 1 - 18, USA

Investigation

Public
16+ aged, general public, Canada, 2011
Survey name
CN-Happiness Monitor Survey 2011
Sample
Probability sample (unspecified)
Respondents
N = 5025
Non Response
Assessment
Questionnaire: Conputer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI)

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report 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)
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-11-a
Author's label:
Subjective well-being
Page in publication:
2
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Overall, how satisfied are you with your life.....?
4  very satisfied  
3  satisfied  
2  dissatisfied  
1  very dissatisfied.
Classification:
O-SLu-u-sq-v-4-a
Author's label:
Life satisfaction
Page in publication:
2
Full text:
Self report on single question:

…. Happy with your life .. (full text not reported)
4  very happy
3  pretty happy
2  not too happy
1  not at all happy
Classification:
O-HL-?-sq-v-4-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Page in publication:
2

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Real life friends Number of friends/acquaintances Online friends Online friends