Study Fernandez & Kulik (1981): study US 1973

Public

18+ aged, general public, USA, 1973-1974

Sample

Respondents

N = 5916

Non Response

?

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face

Happiness measure(s)

Full text:

Self report on single question:

'How satisfied would you say you are with your life as a whole ....?'
4  completely satisfied
3  very satisfied
2  moderately satisfied
1  slightly satisfied
0  not satisfied at all

Classification:

O-SLW-u-sq-v-5-c

Author's label:

Life-satisfaction

Remarks:

Range 0-4: M = 2.8  SD = .89  Transformed to range 0-10: Ms' = 7.1
When disattenuated for day to day noise (unreliability): M = 2.8, SD = 0.84

Error estimates:

Reliability: Retest reliablity over 8 month: r =+.43 This retest-coefficient is used for computing 'disattenuated' correlations (estimates of the true correlation if inaccuracy in report of happiness did not depress observed correlation) Validity: External congruent validity apparent in high multiple correlation with set of following variables: 1) satisfaction with: housing, neighborhood, finance, work and marriage 2) Bradburn's Affect Balance Scale (AFF 2.3) 3) direct question on happiness (HAP 1.1) R =.54

Observed distribution

Summary Statistics

On original range 0 - 4 On range 0-10

Mean:

2.80 7.10

SD:

0.89 -