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Studies

Palisi (1986): study US 1977

Publication

Author(s):
Palisi, B.J.
Title:
Friendship in Three Metropolitan Areas: Cross-Cultural Evidence of its Voluntariness.
Source:
Journal of Voluntary Action Research, 1986, Vol. 15, 67 - 78

Investigation

Public
Males, metropolitan areas: London, Los Angeles and Sydney, 1977-80
Sample
Respondents
N = 752
Non Response
67%
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single  question:

"......happiness during past few weeks....." (full lead not reported)
4  very happy
3
2
1  not too happy
Classification:
M-FH-cm-sq-v-4-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Remarks:
London:       30% very happy, 47% happy, 23% less   M=2.07  Ms'=5.4 Los Angeles:  22% very happy, 48% happy, 30% less   M=1.92  Ms'=4.6
Sydney:       19% very happy, 42% happy, 39% less   M=1.80  Ms'=4.0
Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Author's label:
Feelings
Remarks:
London:      high 20%, medium 74%, low 6%   M=2.14  Ms'=5.7        
Los Angeles: high 45%, medium 48%, low 7%   M=2.38  Ms'=6.9      
Sydney:      high 29%, medium 65%, low 6%   M=2.23  Ms'=6.2

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Visiting friends Visits to friends Discussions with friends Intimate discussions with friends