Saad (2002): study US 1979

Publication

Author(s):

Saad, L.

Title:

Optimism about Nation's Future Up Sharply from Last Year. Evaluations of Personal Life Remain Highly Positive.

Source:

Gallup Poll News Services, 28 January 2002,The Gallup Poll Organization, Washington DC, USA

Investigation

Public

18+ aged, general public, United States, 1979

Survey name

Gallup poll

Sample

Probability multistage stratified area sample

Respondents

N = 1000

Non Response

0

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question:

Here is a picture of a ladder. Suppose we say that the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the  bottom represents the worst possible life for you. Where on the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time?   
[  10  ]  best possible life
[    9  ]
[    8  ]
[    7  ]
[    6  ]
[    5  ]
[    4  ]
[    3  ]
[    2  ]
[    1  ]
[    0  ]  worst possible life
                          
                                                                                
Preceded by 1)  open questions about what the respondent imagines as the best possible life and the worst possible life. 2) ratings on the ladder of one's life five years ago and  where on the ladder one expects to stand five years from now.

Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating of life (original)

Classification:

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

Observed distribution

Frequencies

1: 1%,   2: 1%,   3: 1%,   4: 5%,   5: 6%,   6: 19%,   7: 13%,   8: 18%,   9: 18%,   10: 8%,   11: 8%   (total 98%)

Summary Statistics

On original range 0 - 10 On range 0-10

Mean:

6.50 6.50

SD:

2.10 2.10