Stewart, M.E., Watson, R., Clark, A. et al. (2 more authors) (2010) A hierarchy of happiness? Mokken scaling analysis of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 48 (7). pp. 845-848. ISSN 0191-8869
Abstract
The items of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI, a self-report assessment of happiness, are subjected to an analysis for hierarchy among its items. By using Mokken scaling analyses we can assess whether items can reliably be ordered between persons as severity indicators on a latent trait; in this case, a latent trait of Happiness. OHI item-level data from 1024 participants were entered into the Mokken Scaling Procedure (MSP) seeking reliable scales with H > 0.30. 12 OHI items formed a reliable and statistically significant hierarchy. However, the MSP values indicate a 'weak' scale. The 'most difficult' (happiest) item on the scale is 'feeling energetic' and the 'least difficult' (least happy) is 'I have fun'. Items in the scale are consistent with what is already known about both happiness and low mood. The reduction in the OHI's items from 29 to 12 in the Mokken scale may have utility making it more accessible to participants as well as identifying items with reliably different levels of 'difficulty'. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2010 Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Personality and Individual Differences. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Happiness; Mokken scaling; Oxford Happiness Inventory; Mood; Latent trait; Item response theory |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Nursing and Midwifery (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Miss Anthea Tucker |
Date Deposited: | 25 May 2010 10:16 |
Last Modified: | 08 Feb 2013 17:00 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.02.011 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.paid.2010.02.011 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:10845 |