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Studies

Fordyce (1977): study US 1972

Publication

Author(s):
Fordyce, M.W.
Title:
Development of a Program to Increase Personal Happiness.
Source:
Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1977, Vol. 24, 511 -521

Investigation

Public
Student participants in a happiness training, USA 197?
Survey name
Unnamed study
Sample
Non-probability chunk sample
Respondents
N = 202
Non Response
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on two questions:

A
Use the list below to answer the following question: IN GENERAL, HOW HAPPY OR UNHAPPY DO YOU USUALLY FEEL? Check the one statement that best describes your average happiness.
10  extremely happy (feeling ecstatic, joyous, fantastic!)
9    very happy (feeling really good and elated!)
8    pretty happy (spirits high, feeling good)
7    mildly happy (feeling fairly good and somewhat cheerful)
6    slightly happy ( just a bit above neutral)
5    slightly unhappy (just a bit below neutral)
4    mildly unhappy (just a bit low)
3    pretty unhappy (somewhat "blue", spirits down)
2    very unhappy ( depressed, spirits very low)
1    extremely unhappy (utterly depressed, completely down)

B)
Consider your emotions a moment further. On the average, what percentage of the time do you feel Happy? What percent of the time do you feel unhappy? What percent of the time do you feel neutral (neither happy nor unhappy)? Write down your best estimate, as well as you can, in the space below. Make sure the figures add-up to equal 100%
The percent of time I felt happy       _____%
The percent of time I felt unhappy   _____%
The percent of time I felt neutral      _____%

Summation: A + % happy on B

Name: Fordyce's 'Happiness measure'
Classification:
A-Sum-g-mq-*-111-a
Author's label:
happiness
Page in publication:
514
Full text:
Self report on single question:

." In general how happy or unhappy do you usually feel....?"
Check the one statement that best describes your average happiness.
10  extremely happy (feeling ecstatic, joyous, fantastic)
9    very happy (feeling really good, elated)
8    pretty happy (spirits high, feeling good)
7    mildly happy (feeling fairly good and somewhat cheerful)
6    slightly happy (just a bit above neutral)
5    neutral (not particularly happy or unhappy)
4    slightly unhappy (just a bit below neutral)
3    mildly unhappy  (just a little low)
2    pretty unhappy (somewhat "blue", spirits down)
1    very unhappy (depressed, spirits very low)
0    extremely unhappy (utterly depressed, completely down)

Fordyce Happiness Scale
Classification:
A-AOL-g-sq-v-11-a
Author's label:
Happiness scale
Page in publication:
515
Full text:
Self report on 3 questions:

"What percentage of the time would you say you are....?" (Percentages must add up to 100%)
1   happy
2   unhappy
3   neutral

Computation: Net Time Happy (NTH) % time happy - % time unhappy
Classification:
A-TH-g-mq-th%-100-a
Author's label:
time happy/unhappy
Page in publication:
514

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Program to increase personal happiness