Does it matter how happiness is measured? Evidence from a randomized controlled experiment

Studer, Raphael

doi:10.3233/jem-120364

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This study provides further evidence that VAS are feasible in web surveys (e.g., Funke & Reips, 2012b;Studer, 2012). Although sliders and VAS look similar, they affect the data collection process differently.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Furthermore, VAS' fine gradations are especially valuable in semantic differentials or polarity profiles, where VAS can help to avoid the problem of shared ranks (see Funke & Reips, 2012b). Studer (2012) found that VAS are feasible in web surveys and suited for measurement of happiness without scaling effect. VAS can either be realized as continuous scales (each pixel in length serves as a possible rating) or be realized as discrete n-point scales.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Web Experiment Showing Negative Effects of Slider Scales Compared to Visual Analogue Scales and Radio Button Scales

Funke¹

2015

Social Science Computer Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article provides evidence that there is a substantial difference between slider scales and visual analogue scales (VAS), two types of rating scales used in web surveys that are frequently mixed up. In an experimental design, both scales were compared to standard HTML radio buttons and offered three, five, or seven response options. Slider scales negatively affect response rate (especially on mobile devices), the sample composition, the distribution of values, and also increase response times. VAS and radio buttons, however, can be used without negative side effects, even on touch screen devices like smartphones. Overall, it is recommended to avoid slider scales. As small differences in rating scales-here drag and drop versus point and click-have a huge influence on data collection, an optimal implementation of VAS is suggested. However, measurement of discrete variables with a moderate number of response options should be done with radio buttons scales unless a small screen size-for example, on smartphones-requires an economical use of space.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

mentioning

confidence: 98%

A Web Experiment Showing Negative Effects of Slider Scales Compared to Visual Analogue Scales and Radio Button Scales

Funke¹

2015

Social Science Computer Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Admittedly, there is no conceptual model that specifies what metric is best for measuring approval, and no consensus exists on how to best to measure it in experimental studies of audience costs (Tomz (2007) and Levy et al (2015) use a 7-point scale; Levendusky and Horowitz (2012) use a 5-point one). I chose an 11-point scale as there is some evidence that more continuous measures provide more information than discrete Likert scales by overcoming endpoint aversion (Studer, 2012). The second measure I used was the difference in executive approval after a coercive foreign policy threat was made and after the executive reneged on this threat.…”

Section: The Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public support for economic and military coercion and audience costs

Thomson

2016

The British Journal of Politics and International Relations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article expands the concept of 'audience costs' from the military realm to the realm of economic coercion. • • 'Audience costs' occur when an executive publicly commits to a coercive foreign policy action and subsequently reneges as public approval will decline. • • An experiment specifies when the public will support economic or military coercion, and how this preference affects the evaluation of executives who renege on threats. • • The findings suggest that audience costs do occur when the executive threatens economic sanctions and subsequently reneges, similar to military coercion. • • However, I find that inconsistency is not punished when a leader reneges after threatening military intervention in a crisis that does not threaten national security.I specify the role public support for economic and military coercion and reactions to executive inconsistencies play in generating and/or weakening approval for executives. In times of international crises, these factors may compete against each other when it comes to determining public approval. To examine this claim, I conducted a survey experiment on a representative sample of adults to determine when audiences will support economic or military coercion, and how this willingness to support specific coercive action affects their evaluation of the executive's handling of international crises. I find that public policy preferences can have a stronger effect than a preference for having a leader behave consistently. Specifically, I find that (1) executive inconsistency is not punished when a leader backs down from a military commitment in a non-threatening crisis, (2) executive inconsistencies are not only punished in military disputes but also in cases of economic coercion (punishment is in fact more prominent in sanctions cases), and (3) executive inconsistency can be punished both in major and lesser conflicts.

show abstract

“…The multi-item questionnaires are better tools at capturing subjective wellbeing (Helm 2000). At this stage in the development of wellbeing/happiness measurements the discrete rating scale is widely accepted with some efforts at creating a continuous measure (Studer 2012).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inter-State Internal Migration: State-level Wellbeing as a Cause

Hummel

2015

J Happiness Stud

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The relationship between subjective wellbeing and in-migration is explored in this paper. The wellbeing of a state is considered an incentive for in-migration to that state as the wellbeing in that state increases. A cross-sectional, multiple regression on the contiguous states in the United States was used to determine if there is any relationship. A significant and positive relationship was found between state-level subjective wellbeing and net in-migration when controlling for economic and non-economic variables typically associated with in-migration. The positive relationship indicates that as a state's wellbeing increases its appeal as a destination for internal migrants increases as well. It is recommended for policymakers to focus on improving the subjective wellbeing of their state's residents not only to retain and attract new residents, but as a general measure of successful administration. Future studies are needed to verify the link between a state's wellbeing and in-migration to that state. This study serves as a first step in this literature.

show abstract

Does it matter how happiness is measured? Evidence from a randomized controlled experiment

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

A Web Experiment Showing Negative Effects of Slider Scales Compared to Visual Analogue Scales and Radio Button Scales

A Web Experiment Showing Negative Effects of Slider Scales Compared to Visual Analogue Scales and Radio Button Scales

Public support for economic and military coercion and audience costs

Inter-State Internal Migration: State-level Wellbeing as a Cause

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About