Study Wessman & Ricks (1966): study US 1957 /1

Public

Male college students, followed 3 years, Harvard University, USA, 1957-60

Sample

Respondents

N = 17

Non Response

37%: 9 dropouts, incomplete; about the same happiness distribution.

Assessment

Multiple assesment methods
Mood diary kept 30 days and repeated interviews and tests during three years.

Correlate

Authors's Label

Self-confidence (vs inadequacy)

Our Classification

Operationalization

Repeated closed question on 'how self-
assured and adequate, or helpless and
inadequate, you felt', rated on a 10-point scale:

10. Nothing is impossible to me. Can do
    anything I want.
9. Feel remarkable self-assurance.
    Sure of my superior powers.
8. Highly confident of my capabilities
7. Feel my abilities sufficient and my
    prospects good.
6. Feel fairly adequate.
5. Feel my performance and capabili-
    ties somewhat limited.
4. Feel rather inadequate.
3. Distressed by my weakness and lack
    of ability.
2. Wretched and miserable. Sick of my
    own incompetence.
1. Crushing sense of weakness and
    futility. I can do nothing.

Scale scored each night for the highest, lowest and average experience of the day.
Wessman & Ricks Self-confidence vs feeling of Inadequacy Scale).

Observed Relation with Happiness