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Studies

Berg (2010): study ZZ 2000

Publication

Author(s):
Berg, M.C.
Title:
Geluk in Landen: Een Empirische Studie naar Condities voor een Gelukkige Samenleving. ( Happiness in Nations. An Empirical Study of Conditions for a Happy Society).
Source:
Doctoral Thesis Department of Social Science, Erasmus University, 2010, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Investigation

Public
Adults, general public, 119 countries, 2000-2006
Sample
Probability multistage stratified area sample
Respondents
N = 119
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
in some countries by telephone or CATI

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?
0  dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 satisfied
Classification:
O-SLW-c-sq-n-11-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Page in publication:
179
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Here is ladder representing the 'ladder of life'. Let's suppose the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you; and the bottom, the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time?
10 best possible
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 worst possible life

This question was followed (not preceded) by items on life 5 years ago and 5 years from now.
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c
Author's label:
Contentment
Full text:
Self report on 14 questions

Did you experience the following feelings during A LOT OF THE DAY yesterday? How about..
A  enjoyment?
B  physical pain
C  worry
D  sadness
E  stress
F  anger
G  depression
H  love

Now please think about YESTERDAY, from the morning until the end of the day. Think of where you were, what you were doing and how you felt.
I    Did you feel well rested yesterday?
J   Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?
K  Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday?
L  Would you like to have more days just like yesterday?
M  Were you proud of something you did yesterday?
N   Were you treated with respect all day yesterday?

Rated:
1  yes
0 no
-  no answer, don't know

Computation:
- Average % positive affect = (A+H+I+J+K+L+M+N)/8
- Average % negative affect = (B+C+D+E+F+G)/6
- Affect Balance = Average % positive affect - Average % negative affect

Transformation to range 0-10:
(Score[range-100-100] + 100)/200*10

These questions do not measure hedonic level of affect of individual persons adequately, since yesterday's mood does not always correspond with typical average mood. Yet these questions can be used for measuring hedonic level in aggregates, such as nations, since individual variations balance out in big samples.
Classification:
A-AB-yd-mq-v-2-b
Author's label:
Mood
Page in publication:
180

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Income inequality Income inequality in nation
Inequality of happiness in nations