Thompson et al. (1960): study US 1952
Publication
- Author(s):
 - Thompson, W.E.; Kosa, J.; Streib, G.F.
 - Title:
 - The Effect of Retirement on Personal Adjustment: A Panel Analysis.
 - Source:
 - Journal of Gerontology, 1960, Vol. 15, 165 - 169
 
Investigation
- Public
 - 60+ aged, employed at start, followed 2 years, USA, 1952-54
 - Sample
 - Non-probability purposive sample
 - Respondents
 - N = 1559
 - Non Response
 - Assessment
 - 
        Interview: face-to-face                    
Structured interview, followed by 2 mailed questionnaires. 
Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings
- Full text:
 - 
            Self report on 3 questions:
A All in all, how much happiness would you say you find in life today......?
3 a great deal
2 some but not very much
1 almost none
B In general, how would you say you feel most of the time, in good spirits or in low spirits.....?
1 I am usually in low spirits
2 I am sometimes in good spirits, sometimes in low spirits
3 I am mostly in good spirits
C On the whole, how satisfied are you with your way of life today.....?
4 very satisfied
3 fairly satisfied
2 not very satisfied
1 not satisfied at all
Items selected by Guttman scaling. - Classification:
 - M-AO-*-mq-v*-10-a
 - Author's label:
 - Satisfaction with life
 - Remarks:
 - Almost symmetric: 1952: 51% satisfied, 49% dissatisfied, 1954: 43% satisfied, 57% dissatisfied
Break satisfied/dissatisfied not reported - Page in publication:
 - 166
 - Error estimates:
 - Reproducibility: +.96, Error ratio : +.55