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

Ideal-self descript-ions

Our Classification

Remarks

See also under 'Content of real self-image' S 2.2.1). The group of Ss was divided in two according to their mean 'daily average mood' (AFF 3.1). The Q sort description provided by the nine re- latively happy men were compared with those of the eight relatively unhappy men. Only significant discrepancies between the des- criptions of both groups were presented.

Operationalization

Content analysis of a 60-item Q sort, filled out both in very elated and in very depressed moods for ideal-concept ('the picture of the sort of person you have hoped to become or fancied your- self to be').

Observed Relation with Happiness