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Studies

Wessman (1973): study US 1957

Publication

Author(s):
Wessman, A.E.
Title:
Personality and the subjective experience of time.
Source:
Journal of Personality Assessment 1973, Vol. 37, 103 - 114

Investigation

Public
Male college students, followed 3 years, Harvard University, USA, 1957-60
Sample
Respondents
N = 17
Non Response
-
Assessment
Multiple assesment methods
Questionnaires, interviews, and tests during 3 years

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question, answered every evening before retiring during six weeks (experience sampling)

"On average;  how elated or depressed,  happy or unhappy you felt today....?
10  Complete elation, rapturous joy and soaring ecstasy
9    Very elated and in very high spirits.   Tremendous
      delight and buoyancy
8    Elated and in high spirits
7    Feeling very good and cheerful
6    Feeling pretty good , "OK"
5    Feeling a little bit low. Just so-so
4    Spirits low and somewhat 'blue'
3    Depressed and feeling very low.
      Definitely 'blue'
2    Tremendously depressed.
      Feeling terrible, really miserable, "just awful"
1    Utter depression and gloom. Completely down.
      All is black and leaden. Wish it were all over.

Name:  Wessman & Ricks'  `Elation - depression scale'
Classification:
A-ARE-md-sqr-v-10-b
Author's label:
Mood
Full text:
Clinical rating by six staff psychologists, who had studies the subject intensively.

Ss were ranked for 'happiness'

Rating scale not reported
Classification:
O-HP-g-rc-ro-*-a
Author's label:
Happiness

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Experience and use of time