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Studies

Thurnher (1974): study US 1969

Publication

Author(s):
Thurnher, M.
Title:
Goals, Values, and Life Evaluations at The Pre-Retirement Stage.
Source:
Journal of Gerontology, 1974, Vol. 29, 85 - 96

Investigation

Public
55+ aged, people in transition, United States, 196?
Sample
Non-probability purposive-quota sample
Respondents
N = 114
Non Response
0
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Depth interviews and tests during 9 hours

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 8 questions:

" In the past few weeks did you ever feel.....?"
A  Pleased about having accomplished something
B  Upset because someone criticized you
C  Proud because someone complimented you one something you had done
D That things are going your way
E So restless you couldn't sit long in a chair
F  Unhappy or depressed
G  Particularly interested in something
H  Lonely and remote from other people

Response options:
0  not at all
1  sometimes
2  often
3  very often

Scoring: a = 0..........d  = 3

Summation:
Positive Affect Score (PAS): summed scores on A, C, D, G
Negative Affect Score (NAS): summed scores on B, E, F, H
Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS

Name: Bradburn's Affect Balance Scale (shortened variant)
Classification:
A-BB-cw-mq-v-4-c
Author's label:
Morale
Page in publication:
87
Full text:
Self report on single question

attainment of 'wants out of life '(full text not reported)
1  ambivalent, not successful
2  fairly successful
3  very successful
Classification:
C-W-?-sq-v-3-a
Author's label:
Attainment of Wants out of Life
Page in publication:
90
Observed distribution
Frequencies
1: 37.3%,   2: 43.6%,   3: 18.2%   (total 99.1%)
Summary Statistics
On original range 0 - 0 On range 0-10
Mean:
2.19 5.96
SD:
0.72 3.61

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Hedonism Hedonic values Transition of Retirement Stage of life
Leaving home of children (empty nest)
Stage of retirement
Spouse retired