Bachman et al. (1970): study US 1966

Publication

Author(s):

Bachman, J.G.; Davidson, R.L.; Johnson, L.D.; Kahn, R.L.; Mednick, M.T.

Title:

Youth in Transition, Vol. 1,2,3,4,5.

Source:

Institute for Social Research, 1970, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Investigation

Public

Public highschool boys followed 3 years from grade 10, USA, 1966-69

Survey name

Unnamed study

Sample

Probability multistage stratified area sample

Respondents

N = 1799

Non Response

2.8% incomplete information in 1966

Assessment

Multiple assesment methods
Interviews, test, teacher ratings.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on 6 questions:

" Describe the kind of person you are. Please read each sentence, then mark how often it is true for you"
1  I feel like smiling
2  I generally feel in good spirits
3  I feel happy
4  I am very satisfied with life
5  I find a good deal of happiness in life
6  I feel sad

Response options:
5   almost always true
4   often true
3   sometimes true
2   seldom true
1   never true

Summation: average
Possible range: 1 to 5

Classification:

O-HP-g-mq-v-5-a

Author's label:

Happiness

Error estimates:

Repeat reliability: T1 - T3 (30 mos.): r = +.47 T1 - T2 (18 mos.): r = +.54 T2 - T3 (12 mos.): r = +.63

Observed distribution

Summary Statistics

On original range 1 - 5 On range 0-10

Mean:

3.77 6.90

SD:

0.61 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Negative affect states Scores on symptom inventories
Feeling cheerful (vs gloomy) Intelligence Earlier intelligence
Test-intelligence Vocabulary level Verbal ability Reading comprehension ability Verbal ability Delinquent behaviors Current deviant behavior Impulse to aggression Aggressive, angry
Misbehavior in school Positive attitude towards school Perceived usefulness of schooling
Educational values Negative attitude toward school Attitudes to school
Perceived usefulness of schooling Having plans to go to college Educational aspirations
Perceived usefulness of schooling
Particular plans Academic achievement(grades School-success Self-perceived school ability Self-perceived intelligence
School-success Rebellious behaviors in school Misbehavior in school Somatic symptoms Current psycho-somatic complaints Status of occupatio-nal aspirations Occupational aspirations Negative affect states Feeling down (vs not)
Current mental complaints Trust in government Attitudes to national government Internal control Inner locus of control Ambitious job attitude Occupational aspirations
Aspirations for social advancement
Current motivation to work Need for social approval Approval seeking Need for self-utilization Self-actualization (need for) Need for self-development Self-actualization (need for) Trust in people Trusting
Trust in people Test-anxiety Fail anxious Political knowledge Political concern Self-esteem Evaluation of self-as-a-whole Preference for "a job that pays off" Aspirations for social advancement
Current motivation to work Knowledge about occupations Concern about social mobility
Development of attitudes to work Preference for "a job that doesn't bug me" Aspirations for social advancement
Current motivation to work Earlier Happiness Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago) Acceptance of social values Social values
Similarity of own values with others Positive evaluation of family relations Earlier family of origin
Later family of origin
Family climate (earlier for adults, current for young) S.E.S. Earlier socio-economic status
'Objective' socio-economic status