Research Paper DONDENA Working Papers Series 16
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands! Survey design and the analysis of satisfaction
Authors
Publication date
10 Nov 2008
Abstract
Surveys differ in the way they measure satisfaction and happiness, so comparative research
findings are vulnerable to distortion by survey design differences. We examine this using the
British Household Panel Survey, exploiting its changes in question design and parallel use
of different interview modes. We find significant biases in econometric results, particularly
for gender differences in attitudes to the wage and hours of work. Results suggest that the
common empirical finding that women care less than men about their wage and more about
their hours may be an artifact of survey design rather than a real behavioural difference.
Links
http://portale.unibocconi.it/wps/wcm/connect/Centro_Dondena/Home/Working+Papers/
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