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Studies

Buttel et al. (1977): study US Wisconsin 1974

Publication

Author(s):
Buttel, F.H.; Martinson, O.B.; Wilkening, E.A.
Title:
Ideology and Social Indicators of the Quality of Life.
Source:
Social Indicators Research, 1977, Vol. 4, 353 - 369

Investigation

Public
18+ aged, general public, Winconsin, USA, 1974
Sample
Respondents
N = 548
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Structured interview

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

"How do you feel about what you are accomplishing in life...?"
7  completely satisfied
6  very satisfied
5  satisfied
4  satisfied-dissatisfied
3  dissatisfied
2  very dissatisfied
1  completely dissatisfied.
Classification:
C-A-u-sq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction with life acomplishment
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.00 6.70
SD:
1.10 -
Full text:
Self report on single question :

How do you feel about your life as a whole.....?
7   completely satisfied
6   very satisfied
5   satisfied
4   satisfied/dissatisfied
3   dissatisfied
2   very dissatisfied
1   completely dissatisfied
Classification:
O-SLW-u-sq-v-7-b
Author's label:
Satisfaction with life as a whole
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.20 7.00
SD:
0.90 -
Full text:
Self report on single question:

In general, how happy would you say you are these days.....?
7  extremely happy
6  very happy
5  pretty happy
4  not too happy
3  a bit unhappy
2  pretty unhappy
1  very unhappy
Classification:
O-HL-c-sq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.40 7.30
SD:
0.90 -
Full text:
Self report on 3 questions:

A  How do you feel about what you are accomplishing in life?
B  How do you feel about your life as a whole?
C  In general, how happy would you say you are these days?
Answer options:
7  completely satisfied
6  very satisfied
5  satisfied
4  satisfied - dissatisfied
3  dissatisfied
2  very dissatisfied
1  completely dissatisfied

Possible range 3 - 21
Classification:
M-CO-u-mq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Overall life satisfaction
Error estimates:
Validity: Cronbachs alpha = .72
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
15.60 7.30
SD:
2.30 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Satisfaction with quality of streets and roads Satisfaction with neatness of local streets Satisfaction with quality of crime prevention & control Satisfaction with local police Satisfaction with quality of medical services Satisfaction with medical services in vicinity Satisfaction with quality of stores & retail services Satisfaction with local shops Satisfaction with quality of indoor recreation Satisfaction with local recreation
Build environment
Satisfaction with quality of outdoor recreation Satisfaction with local recreation
Build environment
Satisfaction with standard of living Satisfaction with standard of living Satisfaction with neighborhood Satisfaction with local environment Satisfaction with spare time Satisfaction with leisure activities Satisfaction with house, apartment Satisfaction with housing
Build environment
Satisfaction with community Attitude to vicinity Satisfaction with environment Attitude to local natural environment Satisfaction with life as a whole O-HL by O-SL
Overall happiness and contentment
Happiness_B O-HL by C-RW Satisfaction with life acomplishment O-HL by C-RW
O-SL by M-CO
Successful (vs failure)
Happiness_A O-HL by O-SL Organizational membership Membership of voluntary organizations Social participation Current personal contacts Maried status Married state (compared to non-married states) Political cynism Perceived political control Stratification system illegitimacy Attitudes to social inequality in nation Age Current age (in years) Education Years schooling Family income Household income Place of residence Community size Satisfaction with quality of public schools Satisfaction with local schools
Satisfaction with school-facilities
Build environment