Do People Mean What They Say? Implications for Subjective Survey Data
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In this paper, a large experimental literature by and large supports economists' skepticism of subjective questions, and they cast serious doubts on attempts to use subjective data as dependent variables, because the measurement error appears to correlate with a large set of characteristics in behaviors.Abstract:
Four main messages emerge from the study of subjective survey data. First, a large experimental literature by and large supports economists' skepticism of subjective questions. Second, put in an econometric framework, these findings cast serious doubts on attempts to use subjective data as dependent variables, because the measurement error appears to correlate with a large set of characteristics in behaviors. Third, these data may be useful as explanatory variables. Finally, the empirical work suggests that subjective variables are useful in practice for explaining differences in behavior across individuals. Changes in answers to these questions, however, do not appear useful in explaining changes in behavior.read more
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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
What can economists learn from happiness research
Bruno S. Frey,Alois Stutzer +1 more
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Book
Thinking About Answers: The Application of Cognitive Processes to Survey Methodology
TL;DR: For students and practitioners of survey research, Thinking About Answers: The Application of Cognitive Processes to Survey Methodology (see record 1995-98746000) provides a broad theoretical discussion.
Journal ArticleDOI
Being Independent is a Great Thing: Subjective Evaluations of Self-Employment and Hierarchy
Matthias Benz,Bruno S. Frey +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the difference between the decision-making procedures "market" and "hierarchy" affects individual wellbeing beyond outcomes, and they take self-employment as an important case of independence, and show that the self-employed derive higher satisfaction from work than those employed in organizations.
Journal ArticleDOI
Questions About Questions: Inquiries into the Cognitive Bases of Surveys
Journal ArticleDOI
Happiness, satisfaction and socio-economic conditions: Some international evidence
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between socio-economic conditions and happiness or satisfaction of individuals in 15 countries and found that age, health and marital status are strongly associated with happiness and satisfaction.