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

Raphael Studer

No 49, ECON - Working Papers from Department of Economics - University of Zurich

Abstract: A continuous and a discrete rating scale were implemented for a single item happiness question in a representative survey. A randomized controlled experiment enables unique analyses on data quality and distributions, which suggest superiority of the continuous scale. Results raise doubts about earlier inferences drawn on correlates of happiness. So far only self-assessed discrete happiness data have been used for research into the determinants of happiness. However, distribution distortions were found for the numerically labeled discrete scale, especially for women. Through this discretization bias, the widely reported gender happiness inequality puzzle can be explained.

Keywords: Happiness; subjective well-being; life satisfaction; likert scale; visual analogue scale; rating scales; gender inequalities; gender gap (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zur:econwp:049

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