Characteristics

Code:

A-AB-yd-mq-v-2-t

Focus:

Affect: Affect Balance (Various) (A-AB)

Time frame:

yesterday (yd)

Mode:

multiple questions (mq)

Scale Type:

verbal scale (v)

Scale Range:

2

Description

Self report on 6 questions

A  Did you smile and laugh a lot yesterday?

Did you experience the following feelings during A LOT OF THE DAY yesterday?
B  How about enjoyment?
C  How about worry?
D  How about sadness?
E  How about depression?
F  How about anger?

Rated:
1  yes
0  no
-  no answer, don't know

Computation:
- Average % positive affect = (A-B)/2
- Average % negative affect = (C-F)/4
- Affect Balance = Average % positive affect - Average % negative affect


These questions do not measure hedonic level of affect of individual persons adequately, since yesterday's mood does not always correspond with typical average mood. Yet these questions can be used for measuring hedonic level in aggregates, such as nations, since individual variations balance out in big samples.