Metrics of Subjective Well-Being: Limits and Improvements (eBook)

Gaël Brulé(PhD) is a post-doc researcher in happiness studies at Erasmus University of Rotterdam. His areas of expertise are cross-national and cross-cultural comparison and comparability of happiness. Filomena Maggino is professor of Social Statistics at the University of Florence (Italy) and chief of the Laboratory of Statistics for Research in Social and Educational field. In the field of statistics applied to social research, her twenty-year research covers mainly data (i) production (with particular reference to subjective data assessment), (ii) analysis (with particular reference to multivariate analysis, scaling models and composite indicator construction), and presentation and dissemination (with particular reference to defining a model aimed at assessing the quality of communication in statistics). Her research interests aim at seeing these topics in the perspective of quality of life assessment. 

Preface 6
Contents 9
1 Towards More Complexity in Subjective Well-Being Studies 11
Abstract 11
Measuring What Matters 11
Measuring the Subjective Appraisal of One’s Life 13
Societal and Community Well-Being 14
Individual Well-Being 15
Building Metrics 16
Living Conditions 17
Objective/Subjective: Beyond the Duality 18
Modelling Reality: A Subjective Activity 18
Components of the Reality: Both Objective and Subjective 18
Measuring Reality: An Objective Process 19
To Go Beyond the Duality 19
Existing Doubts 21
Validity Doubts 22
Reliability Doubts 22
Towards More Complexity 23
Acknowledgements 25
References 25
Conceptual Issues 28
2 Can Good Life Be Measured? The Dimensions and Measurability of a Life Worth Living 29
Abstract 29
A Typology of Good Life 31
Measuring Well-Being 35
Measuring Morality 37
Measuring Meaning in Life 40
Measuring Authenticity 42
Conclusion 44
References 46
3 The Subjective Object of Well-Being Studies: Well-Being as the Experience of Being Well 51
Abstract 51
Introduction 52
Well-Being as the Experience of Being Well 53
Essential Experiences of Being Well: Human Condition 53
Evaluative Experiences. Failures and Achievements 53
Affective Experiences: Joy and Suffering 55
Sensory Experiences: Pleasures and Pains 56
Flow Experiences 56
Essential Experiences Are Interrelated 57
The Overall Well-Being Synthesis 57
Considerations for Well-Being Studies 58
Well-Being Is Inherently Subjective. There Is No Objective Well-Being 59
Well-Being Happens to Concrete Persons: Not to Countries or to Disciplinary Agents 59
Well-Being Is Not an Academic Construct 60
Well-Being Is Universal Its Explanatory Structure Is Not
It Is a Mistake to Confuse Drivers of Well-Being with the Experience Itself 62
The Report of the Experience Provides Useful and Fresh Information 62
The Using of Subjective Variables Does Not Make the Study of Well-Being Less Scientific 63
Judgments of Authenticity Should Be Based on the Experience, Not on Its Drivers 64
Experienced Well-Being May Emerge from Eudaimonic and Hedonic Paths 65
Distinguishing Between a Life of Quality and the Experience of Being Well 66
Well-Being Is Not Multidimensional, Although There Is Multiplicity of Explanatory Factors 67
Final Consideration 67
References 68
Measurement Issues 71
4 Measures of Happiness: Which to Choose? 72
Abstract 72
Introduction 72
Concept of Happiness 73
Definition of Happiness 74
Components of Happiness 74
Difference with Related Concepts 75
Difference with Other Qualities of Life 75
Difference with Other Satisfactions 76
Focus on ‘present’ Happiness 76
Currency of This Concept 77
Measures of Happiness 77
Techniques 77
Validity 78
Differences in Valid Measures of Happiness 79
Strengths and Weaknesses 81
How to Choose a Measure of Happiness 85
Conceptual Considerations 85
Happiness Variant 85
Time Frame 85
Methodological Considerations 86
Single or Multiple Questions? 86
What Response Scale? 87
Pragmatic Considerations 88
Summary 89
References 89
5 Explaining the Decline in Subjective Well-Being Over Time in Panel Data 92
Abstract 92
Introduction 93
SWB 94
Panel Data: Methodological Issues 95
Non-random Attrition (NRA) 95
Panel Conditioning 96
Refreshment Sample 98
Aging 98
Data, Hypotheses, and Statistical Analyses 99
Data 99
SHP 99
Measures 99
Hypotheses and Statistical Analyses 100
Non-random Attrition 100
Panel Conditioning 101
Refreshment Sample 101
Aging 101
SWB Over Time 102
Results 102
Non-random Attrition 102
Panel Conditioning 103
Refreshment Sample 103
Aging 103
SWB Over Time 105
Discussion 105
Conclusion 109
References 110
6 Reducing Current Limitations in Order to Enhance the Quality of Subjective Well-Being Research: The Example of Mindfulness 113
Abstract 113
Introduction 114
Mindfulness Conceptualizations and Dimensions 115
General Definitions 115
Dimensions of Mindfulness 116
Overview of Self-report Measures of Mindfulness 117
The Langer Mindfulness/Mindlessness Scale 121
The Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale 122
The State Attention and Awareness Scale 122
The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised 122
The Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills 123
The Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire 123
The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory 123
The Toronto Mindfulness Scale 124
The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale 124
The Developmental Mindfulness Survey 125
The Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire 125
The Effects of Mindfulness Scale 125
The State Mindfulness Scale 126
The Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences 126
Limitations of Self-report Measures of Mindfulness 127
Social Desirability 127
Diversity of Conceptualizations 127
Domain-Specific Vocabulary 128
Awareness Levels 129
Finding New Ways of Assessing Mindfulness 129
Qualitative Approaches 130
Cognitive Measures 131
Conceiving Non-self-report Measures of Mindfulness 131
Conclusion and Perspectives 132
References 133
7 Measuring Indecision in Happiness Studies 139
Abstract 139
Introduction 139
CUB Models Framework 141
Measuring Evaluations of Well-Being and Happiness 144
Empirical Evidence 147
Mixture Models for Happiness as a Discrete Random Variable 150
Concluding Remarks 155
References 156
Comparability Issues 160
8 Evaluating Comparability of Survey Data on Subjective Well-being 161
Abstract 161
Introduction 162
The Association Between True and Reported Well-being 165
Arbitrary Scales and Consequences for Distinct Measurement 165
The Shape of the Response Function for Subjective Well-being 167
The Merits and Limitations of Cardinal Comparability 169
Arguments For and Against Cardinal Comparability 169
Consequences for How Subjective Well-being Data Are Used 171
Potential Approaches to Evaluating Comparability Empirically 172
A Worked Example and Some Empirical Evidence 175
Evaluating Distinctness and Order of the Life Satisfaction Scale 175
Evaluating the (Possible) Shape of the Response Function for Life Satisfaction 177
A Sensitivity Test: Evaluating the Consequences of Hypothetical Nonlinearities 181
Discussion and Conclusion 183
References 185
9 Label Scale and Rating Scale in Subjective Well-Being Measurement 189
Abstract 189
Introduction 189
Life Satisfaction in ISTAT Multipurpose Survey 190
Life Satisfaction Measurement with Scales in BES Project 190
The Comparison 192
Label Scales and Rating Scales in the Measurement of Subjective Well-Being 193
The Label Scale 193
The Rating Scale 193
The Correspondence Analysis Applied to Scales Studies 194
The Results 196
The Data Results of the ISTAT Multipurpose Survey “Aspects of Daily Life” in 2010 196
A Proposal 199
A Matching Model Between Label Scales and Rating Scales 199
Are Categories of Rating Scales Equidistant? 200
The Intensity of the Categories 201
Conclusions 202
References 203
Possible Improvements of the Measurability of Subjective Well-Being 205
10 Culture and Well-Being: A Research Agenda Designed to Improve Cross-Cultural Research Involving the Life Satisfaction Construct 206
Abstract 206
Introduction 206
Individualism Versus Collectivism 207
Positivity Bias 209
Reference Group Effect 210
Lack of Consistency of Self-concept Over Time 211
Extreme Response Tendency 212
Power Distance 213
Locus of Control 213
Upward Social Comparison 214
Femininity/Cooperativeness Versus Masculinity/Competitiveness 215
Uncertainty Avoidance 216
Long-Term Orientation Versus Short-Term Orientation 217
Short-Termism 217
Achievement (Doing) Versus Ascription (Being) 218
Conclusion 219
References 220
11 Objective and Subjective Indices of Well-Being: Resolving the Easterlin Happiness–Income Paradox 225
Abstract 225
Introduction 226
The Income–Happiness Paradox 227
The Child and Youth Well-Being (CWI) Index 228
Assessing the Income–Happiness Paradox via the CWI 232
Conclusion 234
References 236
12 Methods to Increase the Comparability in Cross-National Surveys, Highlight on the Scale Interval Method and the Reference Distribution Method 238
Abstract 238
Introduction 239
The Scale Interval Method 240
Introduction to the Scale Interval Method 240
The Scale Interval Recorder 240
Applications of HSIS Results for Research 243
Application 1: Comparing Different Response Scales on the Same Topic 243
Application 2: Comparison of Happiness Across Nations 243
Application 3: Influence of the Labels of the Anchor Points on the Overall Distribution of the Responses 246
The Reference Distribution Method 247
Introduction to the Reference Distribution Method 247
The Continuum Approach 248
Using a Reference Distribution to Derive Boundaries Between Response Options 251
Scale Transformation Using the Reference Distribution Method 252
Applications of the Reference Distribution Method for Research 253
Time Series on Life Satisfaction in Japan and the Netherlands 253
Application 1: Combining and Extending Time Series on Life Satisfaction 255
Application 2: Comparing Trends in Mean Life Satisfaction for Quartile Groups 258
Closing Words and Synthesis of Main Results 260
References 262
Index 264