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Studies

Cherlin & Reeder (1975): study US Los Angeles County, California 1972

Publication

Author(s):
Cherlin, A.; Reeder, L.G.
Title:
The Dimensions of Psychological Well-Being: A Critical Review.
Source:
Sociological Methods and Research, 1975, Vol. 4, 189 -214

Investigation

Public
Adults, general public, Los Angeles County, USA, 1972-1973
Sample
Respondents
N = 1000
Non Response
20% in 1972 and 23% in 1973.
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Author's label:
Psychological well-being.
Error estimates:
Reliability: Equivalence: positive affect score by negative affect score: r = -.07 (01) in 1972 r = -.09 (01) in 1973. Validity:

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Education