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The Impact of Answer Scale Orientation on the Measurement of Life Satisfaction

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Listed:
  • Fabienne Wöhner

    (University of Bern)

  • Axel Franzen

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

In national and international surveys, life satisfaction is often measured by a single item. However, there is a lot of debate in survey research about whether rating scales should be ordered in an ascending order (from negative to positive) or a descending order (from positive to negative). We investigate the effect of scale orientation by randomly assigning both versions in an online survey (N = 3,138). The average reported life satisfaction is 0.7 points lower when the descending version of an 11-point scale is used, as compared to the ascending scale (p

Suggested Citation

  • Fabienne Wöhner & Axel Franzen, 2024. "The Impact of Answer Scale Orientation on the Measurement of Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00798-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00798-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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