print

Studies

Tuddenham (1962): study US 1938

Publication

Author(s):
Tuddenham, R.D.
Title:
Constancy of Personal Morale over a Fifteen-Year Interval.
Source:
Child Development, 1962, Vol. 33, 663 - 673

Investigation

Public
Senior high-school pupils, followed into adulthood, USA, 1938-53
Sample
Respondents
N = 92
Non Response
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
In adolescence and adulthood.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Is it fun to be alive?
4  I enjoy life so much that it is really fun to be alive
3  There are only a few things that are really disappointing
2  There are many things that are disappointing
1  Sometimes life seems just a series of disappointments
Classification:
O-V-u-sq-v-4-a
Author's label:
Personal Morale
Remarks:
range 1-4 (reversed):
males:   T1: M=3.21  Ms'=7.35
         T2: M=3.25  Ms'=7.49
females: T1: M=3.18  Ms'=7.25
         T2: M=3.18  Ms'=7.25
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Will people of your age get the things they want most in life.....?
4  I expect to get almost all the things I really want in life
3  I will probably get more of the things I want than not
2  There are several things I want in life but will probably not get
1  I will probably never get most of the things I really want in life
Classification:
C-W-u-sq-v-4-a
Author's label:
Personal Morale
Remarks:
range 1-4 (reversed)
males:   T1:  M=2.79  Ms'=5.96
         T2:  M=3.13  Ms'=7.09
females: T1:  M=2.90  Ms'=6.32
         T2:  M=3.19  Ms'=7.29

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Personal morale_A Long term happiness (< 10 years ago) Personal morale_B Long term happiness (< 10 years ago)