Correlational findings | World Database of Happiness

Study Ott (2010): study ZZ 2006

Public: 15+ aged, general public, Multiple nations, 2006
Survey name: INT-GallupWorldPoll 2006-2011
Sample
Respondents: N = 127000
Non Response
Assessment: Interview: face-to-face

Correlate

Authors's Label

Size of government

Our Classification

Operationalization

as measured by:
-government consumption
-transfers and subsidies
-government enterprises
-top marginal tax rate

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure

Statistics

Elaboration / Remarks

C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c

r = +.44 p < .01

PRODUCT-MOMENT CORRELATION COEFFICIENT (Also "Pearson's correlation coefficient' or simply 'correlation coefficient')

Type: test statistic.
Measurement level: Correlate: metric, Happiness: metric
Range: [-1; +1]

Meaning:
r = 0  « no correlation ,
r = 1  « perfect correlation, where high correlate values correspond with high happiness values, and
r = -1  « perfect correlation, where high correlate values correspond with low happiness values.

AVERAGE happiness by size of government as measured by government consumption in 127 nations

C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c

rpc = +.14 ns

PARTIAL CORRELATION COEFFICIENT

Type: test statistic
Measurement level: Correlate: metric, Happiness: metric
Range:  [-1; +1]

Meaning:  a partial correlation between happiness and one of the correlates is that correlation, which remains after accounting for the contribution of the other influences, or some of them, to the total variability in the happiness scores.
Under that conditions
rpc > 0  « a higher correlate level corresponds with  a higher  happiness rating,
rpc < 0  «  a higher correlate level corresponds with  a lower  happiness rating,

if controlled for technical quality

C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c

rpc = +.28 p < .05