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From Discrete 1 to 10 Towards Continuous 0 to 10: The Continuum Approach to Estimating the Distribution of Happiness in a Nation

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  • Wim Kalmijn

Abstract

Happiness is often measured in surveys using responses to a single question with a limited number of response options, such as ‘very happy’, ‘fairly happy’ and ‘not too happy’. There is much variety in the wording and number of response options used, which limits comparability across surveys. To solve this problem, descriptive statistics of the discrete distribution in the sample are often transformed to a common discrete secondary scale, mostly ranging from 0 to 10. In an earlier publication we proposed a method for estimating statistics of the corresponding continuous distribution in the population (Kalmijn 2010 ). In the present paper we extend this method to questions using numerical response scales. The application of this ‘continuum approach’ to results obtained using the often used 1–10 numerical scale can make these comparable to those obtained on the basis of verbal response scales. Copyright The Author(s) 2013

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  • Wim Kalmijn, 2013. "From Discrete 1 to 10 Towards Continuous 0 to 10: The Continuum Approach to Estimating the Distribution of Happiness in a Nation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 549-557, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:110:y:2013:i:2:p:549-557
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-011-9943-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. W. Kalmijn & L. Arends & R. Veenhoven, 2011. "Happiness Scale Interval Study. Methodological Considerations," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(3), pages 497-515, July.
    2. Mehrdad Mazaheri & Peter Theuns, 2009. "Effects of Varying Response Formats on Self-ratings of Life-Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(3), pages 381-395, February.
    3. Robert Cummins, 1995. "On the trail of the gold standard for subjective well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 179-200, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tineke Jonge & Ruut Veenhoven & Lidia Arends, 2014. "Homogenizing Responses to Different Survey Questions on the Same Topic: Proposal of a Scale Homogenization Method Using a Reference Distribution," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 275-300, May.
    2. Sara Casacci & Adriano Pareto, 2015. "Methods for quantifying ordinal variables: a comparative study," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1859-1872, September.
    3. Tineke DeJonge & Ruut Veenhoven & Linda Moonen & Wim Kalmijn & Jacqueline Beuningen & Lidia Arends, 2016. "Conversion of Verbal Response Scales: Robustness Across Demographic Categories," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 331-358, March.
    4. Tineke DeJonge & Ruut Veenhoven & Wim Kalmijn & Lidia Arends, 2016. "Pooling Time Series Based on Slightly Different Questions About the Same Topic Forty Years of Survey Research on Happiness and Life Satisfaction in The Netherlands," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 863-891, March.
    5. Tineke DeJonge & Wim Kalmijn & Ruut Veenhoven & Lidia Arends, 2015. "Stability of Boundaries Between Response Options of Response Scales: Does ‘Very Happy’ Remain Equally Happy over the Years?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(1), pages 241-266, August.

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