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Studies

Deaton & Arora (2009): study US 2008

Publication

Author(s):
Deaton, A.; Arora, R.
Title:
Life at the Top: The Benefit of Height.
Source:
Economics and Human Biology, 2009, Vol. 2, 133- 136

Investigation

Public
18+ aged, general public, USA, 2008
Sample
Probability systematic sample
Respondents
N = 454065
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Here is ladder representing the 'ladder of life'. Let's suppose the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you; and the bottom, the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time?
10 best possible
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 worst possible life

This question was followed (not preceded) by items on life 5 years ago and 5 years from now.
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c
Author's label:
evaluation of life
Page in publication:
2
Full text:
Self report on 7 questions:

Did you experience the following feeling during A LOT OF THE DAY yesterday?
A  enjoyment
B  physical pain
C  sadness
D  worry
E  stress
F  anger
G  happiness

Rated: : 0: no 1: yes

Computation:
- Average % positive affect = (A+G)/2
- Average % negative affect = (B+C+D+E+F)/5
- Affect Balance = Average % positive affect - Average % negative affect

These questions do not measure hedonic level of affect of individual persons adequately, since yesterday's mood does not always correspond with typical average mood. Yet these questions can be used for measuring hedonic level in aggregates, such as nations, since individual variations balance out in big samples.
Classification:
A-AB-yd-mq-v-2-e
Author's label:
feelings "during a lot of the day"
Page in publication:
2,9
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -100 - 100 On range 0-10
Mean:
60.73 -
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding height Height