Campbell et al. (1976): study US 1971

Publication

Author(s):

Campbell, A.; Converse, P.E.; Rodgers, W.L.

Title:

The Quality of American Life. Perceptions, Evaluations, and Satisfactions.

Source:

Russel Sage Foundation, 1976, New York, USA

Investigation

Public

18+ aged, general public, USA, 1971

Sample

Respondents

N = 2164

Non Response

20%

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face
Highly structured, at home

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question:

We have talked about various parts of your life, now I want to ask you about your life as a whole. How satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days.....?
7  completely satisfied
6
5
4  neutral
3
2
1  completely dissatisfied

Classification:

O-SLW-c-sq-n-7-a

Author's label:

Overall life satisfaction

Observed distribution

Frequencies

1: 21.7%,   2: 39.6%,   3: 20.7%,   4: 11.3%,   5: 3.7%,   6: 2.1%,   7: 0.9%   (total 100%)

Summary Statistics

On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10

Mean:

2.46 2.43

SD:

1.25 2.08

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Happiness O-HL by O-SL Ways of characterizing life in general Summed life aspect evaluations (semantic differential scales) Social approval see-king tendency Approval seeking Male sex Sex: male (vs female) White race Ethnic status in the USA Family income Household income Educational level Level of school-education Age Current age (in years) Region in USA Region in USA Marital status: married vs. all not married Married state (compared to non-married states) Marital status: married vs. single Married (vs never married) Employment Current employment status
Full-time home maker
Current status: retired or not Marital status: married vs. never married Married (vs never married) Life characterisation ( Summed life aspect evaluations (semantic differential scales)