Research Methods of Wellbeing

Question 1

What is a latent construct and what must be done before it’s usable?

Answer 1

A latent construct is one you cannot directly measure (e.g., happiness, wellbeing). First you must operationalize it which is the process of expressing theoretical constructs in terms of operations that define precise behaviors and indicators.

Question 2

What is the equation for happiness and what do the different variables mean?

Answer 2

X = T + E 
X = your score
T = your true happiness
E1 = random measurement error (can be controlled for)
E2 = systematic measurement error

Question 3

What type of error can we predict?

Answer 3

Random

Question 4

What is the concept of reliability?

Answer 4

How much random measurement error there is in an individual’s score, when you consistently measuring some construct.

Question 5

What is the split-half reliability and how do you measure it?

Answer 5

The split half reliability is the similarity of two randomly selected groups in the same dataset. To test, randomly create 2 subsets from a single measure and correlate the average score of subset 1 with the average score of subset 2. The closer the correlation of the averages is to 1, the less random measurement error there is.

Question 6

What is test-retest reliability and how do we measure it?

Answer 6

Correlation of the scores of the same person at different times (short interval). Typically, an r = 0.7 is indicated as a good reliability.

Question 7

When you’re measuring test-retest reliability and your time interval is a year what are you actually measuring?

Answer 7

Stability (not reliability)

Question 8

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 8

Different people make simultaneous ratings of the same target(s) and find agreement across raters. Kappa (k) is used instead of r.

Question 9

What is internal consistency?

Answer 9

Using multiple items in the measure, to see how items that are supposed to measure the same thing correlate with each other. Chronback’s alpha is used for this, if alpha is greater than 0.7 you have good internal consistency.

Question 10

What is validity?

Answer 10

Validity is the assertion that you are measuring what you want to be measuring. Tests how well your test is actually testing what it’s supposed to.

Question 11

What is content validity/face validity?

Answer 11

Does your question measure the construct?

Question 12

What is construct validity and what are the 3 different types?

Answer 12

Does operationalization match the construct as it is theoretically defined (factor structure, convergent validity, discriminant validity)

Question 13

What is factor structure? Provide an example?

Answer 13

Can we group people with different responses to what the model/theory says the groups are? (e.g., OCEAN)

Question 14

What is convergent validity?

Answer 14

Look at the correlation between my measure and a known validated happiness measure (we want strong positive correlations)

Question 15

What is divergent validity?

Answer 15

Look at the correlation between my measure and a known validated measure of a different construct (we want correlations of 0).

Question 16

What is internal validity?

Answer 16

Is it my IV that is causing change in the dependent variable or somethign else?(random assignment and control is important)? the extent to which the observed results represent the truth in the population we are studying

Question 17

What is external validity? What are the two types of realism?

Answer 17

Do the results of my study generalize to the wider population, real world situations (mundane realism), real world psychological experiences (psychological realism)?

Question 18

Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of closed vs open-ended responses.

Answer 18

Closed (time savings, standardized answers, but does not capture underlying dynamics, labels can influence reliability and validity).
Open: (captures underlying dynamics, subjective and time consuming analysis)

Question 19

What is translation ease?

Answer 19

The ease with which subjects are able to generate meaning of the question. The number of points should match PDs (Psychological Distinctions) people have, the more distinctions you use, the more difficult it is to generalize.

Question 20

What’s the difference between the levels of psychological distinctions in PA vs NA?

Answer 20

There are finer distinctions in the level of positivity than negativity.

Question 21

What is the clarity of meaning?

Answer 21

Clarity may be compromised when a large number of points are used (more than 7). They match people’s PD.

Question 22

What are the three response biases?

Answer 22

1. Satisficing
2. Acquiescence
3. Social desirability

Question 23

What is satisficing?

Answer 23

Tendency to look for cues in the question or response options that point to a reasonable answer ( a result of trying to conserve cognitive resources). To alleviate this bias, try to decrease the # of words.

Question 24

What is acquiescence?

Answer 24

The tendency to agree with an assertion made in a question/statement regardless of the content in order to be polite or to defer to authority. To alleviate this bias, add both positive and negative questions.

Question 25

What is the social desirability bias?

Answer 25

Tendency to choose responses that allow one to present oneself in a positive way.

Question 26

What is self-deception in the context of report biases?

Answer 26

Tendency to see ourselves in a more positive light.

Question 27

How does context of questions increase systematic bias?

Answer 27

The order in which questions are presented matter, evaluations of later questions are influenced by evaluations of earlier questions.

Question 28

What is the self-perception theory?

Answer 28

Our tendency to attribute things to memories of our past behavior.

Question 29

Describe Bradburn’s 1969 Affect Balance Scale? What are its’ limitations?

Answer 29

Asks subjects to respond Yes/No to statements that start with: During the past few weeks did you feel X. These items consisted of positive and negative items. Total score = PA - NA. Limitations: too few items, too narrow in terms of items.

Question 30

What was Fordyce’s 1988 Affect Measure? What are its’ criticisms.

Answer 30

Rate statements on a scale of 1-11 for example, “In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?”. Difficulty in translation, too many items.

Question 31

What was Kammann and Flett’s Affectrometer 2 scale (1983)?

Answer 31

Rate statements on the degree to which they apply to you on a scale of 0-4. Criticism: May not actually be measuring wellbeing (i.e., asking do you like yourself may be a measure of self-confidence).

Question 32

What was Watson and colleagues PANAS Scale?

Answer 32

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. This brief scale is comprised of 20 items, with 10 items measuring positive affect (e.g., excited, inspired) and 10 items measuring negative affect (e.g., upset, afraid). Most widely used measurement. Gives you flexibility because you can choose the time frame.

Question 33

Describe Cantril’s Ladder (1965)

Answer 33

It’s a measure of Life Satisfaction.

Question 34

Describe Diener et al (1985) Life Satisfaction Scale.

Answer 34

Asks subjects to rate how much they agree/disagree with 5 different statements on a scale of 1-7.

Question 35

What is the average domain satisfaction? Disadvantages (2)?

Answer 35

Rate satisfaction in a list of specific life domains, easy to judge but which domains are relevant to everyone, may weigh different domains differently.

Question 36

What is the reliability of Life Satisfaction measures?

Answer 36

Moderate to high consistency across items and scales along with good internal consistency. Good external validity, reliable over long term measures and short term intervals.

Question 37

What is the validity of life satisfaction measures?

Answer 37

Single underlying dimension, convergent validity across measures, converges with informant reports and mood measures. Also discriminates validity from affect, optimism and self-esteem but may overlap with wellbeing. Sensitive to changes in life circumstances, and some predictive validity for longterm outcomes.

Question 38

Name the three most well known wellbeing indices?

Answer 38

1. WHO Well-being Index (WHO-5)
2. Oxford Happiness Inventory
3. Psychological Wellbeing (based on 6 dimensions - self-acceptance, positive relationships, environmental mastery, purpose, personal growth, autonomy)

Question 39

List the four alternative approaches to measuring wellbeing.

Answer 39

1. Informant reports
2. Biographies/narratives
3. Implicit Measures (matching self with wellbeing words)
4. Indirect Measures (fMRI, EEF, ERP, Income)