print

Studies

Thomas & Chambers (1989): study ZZ East-West pairs 1984

Publication

Author(s):
Thomas, L.E.; Chambers, K.G.
Title:
Phenomenology of Life Satisfaction among Elderly Men: Quantitative and Qualitative Views.
Source:
Psychology and Aging, 1989, Vol. 4, 284 - 289

Investigation

Public
70+ aged, highly educated men, New Delhi, India & London, England, 198?
Sample
Non-probability purposive sample
Respondents
N = 100
Non Response
5-24%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Two interviews were conducted, 3-4 weeks apart. Open-ended questions encouraged respondents to talk about themselves and their past. Happiness Question was asked in the body of the second interview. The Cantril Self-Anchoring Ladder was administered at the end of the second interview.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Here is a picture of a ladder. Suppose we say that the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the  bottom represents the worst possible life for you. Where on the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time?   
[  10  ]  best possible life
[    9  ]
[    8  ]
[    7  ]
[    6  ]
[    5  ]
[    4  ]
[    3  ]
[    2  ]
[    1  ]
[    0  ]  worst possible life
                          
                                                                                
Preceded by 1)  open questions about what the respondent imagines as the best possible life and the worst possible life. 2) ratings on the ladder of one's life five years ago and  where on the ladder one expects to stand five years from now.

Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating of life (original)
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-11-a
Author's label:
Cantril Self-Anchoring ladder
Remarks:
London: 7.20 New Delhi: 7.65
Page in publication:
287
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 0 - 10 On range 0-10
Mean:
7.45 7.45
SD:
- -
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Would you say at the present time that you are..?
4  very happy
3  somewhat happy
2  not too happy
1  very unhappy
Classification:
O-HL-c-sq-v-4-m
Author's label:
Happiness question
Remarks:
London: 3.26 New Delhi 3.31
Page in publication:
287
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 4 On range 0-10
Mean:
3.29 -
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Nation of Residence Comparison of specific social categories in nations