ML20238A237
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| Site: | Shoreham File:Long Island Lighting Company icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/30/1987 |
| From: | Flanagan J AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL |
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Text
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z z-o u s yg se %ss I-s/3s/r 7 c-so A Research Approach to Improvidgy Our Ouality of Life
'87 AUG 24 il9:26
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iG JOUN C. FLANAGAN American Institutes for Research I'alo Alta, California i
A ABSTRACT: This progress repert on developing and were collected from nearly 3,000 people of various applying a research approach to I mprove our quality ages, races and backgrounds representing all re-l of life includes several steps: e ai the empirical defini-uinns of the country. In New York City, groups tion of the quality of life of adidts, f b e surveys o!
including individuals from black Harlem and Span-three age groups dos 50., a"d ro-year-olds t shoteing ish Harlem supplied incidents. Critical incidents -
their ratings o/ importance and assesonents of needs met for the 15 factors defining quality of lite, n c) were collected from people in rural Mississippi and o
study of the specitic factors tending to make.Wi ot American adults report their quality of life as good were included and, through an interpreter, samples or better, idi illustrations sha:cing the advantages of were btained from San Francisco's Chinatown.
i using in depth studies of individuals to identify the Wndors and street people in Berkeley also con-k determiners of quality of life, and ici plans for de.
tributed. Altogether, 35 sampling centers sup-f teloping a simulation model to etaluate proposals for plied incidents. To supplement these, 2,000 addi-l improting the quality of life.
tional critical incidents were obtained from the Il-vear follow up survey of Project TALENT par.
In July 1971. a special meetine of the Board of ticipants.
Directors of the American Institutes for Research The purpose of using the regional samples and e
~
(AIR) was held to review 25 years of research diverse groups was not to obtain accurate esti-activities and to discuss goals and plans for the mates of frequencies but rather to insure that dif.
next decade. Several distinguished social scien-fering points of view and types of experience were tists representing a variety of disciplines were in, represented. A variety of questions was used, vited to participate in these discussions to broaden such as,"Think of the last time you did something g'
the perspectives of the group formulating very important to you or had an experience that 1
new directions. One of the principal outcomes of was especially satisfying to you. What did you do xi these sessions was the decision by AIR's manage-or what happened that was so satisfying to you?
ment to direct a major research effort toward im-Why did this experience seem so important or proving the quality of life of Americans. The satisf ying? "
,,a following paragraphs describe the defming, su r-f !i -j veying, analyzing, and studying of the quality of life of specific individuals. Finally, a plan is pre-l sented for utih..zmg these data to develop a simu-This article was presented as a Distinguished Profes-I" sional Contribution Award address at the meeting of the l
lation model to use in designing and evaluating American Psychological Association, San Francisco, August eh q
i N$)
programs to improve the quality of life.
27,1977.
s Jf h The research reported bere was funded by the Field W
I, tj Initiated Studies Program of the National Institute of Z
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06/ n ng t/tc Quality of Li/C Of AmertCans Education and the Administration on Aging of the Office 7
h of Human Development. Both agencies are within the l
p{
s rs di id y [! l In accordance with the general approach to such Departrnent of Health, Education, and Welfare. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Darlene h
problems by AIR, the first step undertaken was Russ-Eft who was my associate on these two research Q 'l
, to defme the critical requirements of a person's projects.
bd b.
9ualitY of life in an empirical manner. To ac-Request 8 f r reprints should be sent to John C. Flana-E' 1
N:
gan, American Institutes for Research, P.O. Box 1113, p.I k,t complish this, more than 6,500 critical incidents Palo Alto, California 94302.
V l
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- FEBRUARY 19"/8 AMERICAN Psycitor.octst L
Copyright 1978 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.
g-All right$ OI reproduCliOD in any tOrm reSeWed.
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4 Another question was. "Think of a time you E. Relations with parents, siblings, or other saw something happen to another person that relati:cs. Having parents, siblings, or other rela-really was harmful or made their life worse in tives.
In these relationships, one experiences some way. Exactly what happened to this per-communicating with or doint things with them, e
son? Why do you feel that this made their life visiting, enjoying, sharing, understanding, being worse? What should have happened in this situ-helped by and helping them. The feeling of be-ation?"
longing and having someone to discuss things with Other questions a3ked for "the biegest chance is a large component.
in the quality of your life
. in the past 5 years,"
F. Relations with friends. Having close friends, "a continuing source of pleasure to you/ "a con-In these relationships one shares activities, inter-i A tinuing source of trouble to you/ "a strong posi-ests and views. Important aspects of these rela-f tive emotional impact / and "a strong negative tionships involve being accepted, visiting, giving em tional impact.'
A number of other questions and receiving help, love, trust, support, and guid-varim all re.
were used to try to include as wide a rance of ance.
experiences andt behaviors as possible.
gro y The 6.500 critical incidents were sorted into soctAL, coststeNiTv, AND civic ACTivlTIES ISpan.
catmories involving similar types of behaviors and G. Activities related to helping or encouraging icidents I
api and experiences Through an inductive process of Whcr people. Helping or encour:tging adults or Arizona cadual re6mment. a wt of 13 categories was children (other than relatives or close friends).
formulated. These 15 quality-of life components This can be done throuch one's efforts as an in-4amples based on the experiences of this varied group of dividu d or as a member of some organization, iatown.
people are listed below under tive headings:
such as a church, club, or volunteer group, that q
40 con-s sup.
f works for the benent of other people.
PH CAL AN D St ATERL;L WELL-BEING g
g7 O addi.
>m the A. M aterial rell-being and financial security. crnments. Keeping informed through the media; I
- T par-Having good food, home, possessions comforts, participating by voting and other communications:
I and expectations of these for the future. Money having and appreciative one's political, social, and and snancial security are typically important fac-relicious freedom. One component of this includes les and e
te esti-tors. For most people, nlling these necos is pri-having livine conditions affected by regulation, I
aat dif-rnarily related to their efforts or those of their laws, procedures, and policies of governing agen-ce were spouse.
cies and the individuals and groups that influence f.
s used, B. Uralth and personal sa/cty. Enjoying free-and operate them.
l nething dom from sickness, possessine physical and men-ice that tal 6tness, avoiding accidents and other health PERSON AL develop 51ENT AND FULFiLLhtENT i
0 Lazards.
Problems related to alcohol, drugs.
- l. Intellectual development. Learm.ng, attend-you <io i
death, and aging are also meluded. Eftective ing school, acquiring desired knowledge and men-to you3 treatment of health problems is a large component. tal abilities, graduating, and problem solving.
tant or Other aspects involve improving understanding, RELATIONS WITl! OTI-!ER PEOPLE comprehension, or appreciation in an intellectual k
C. Relations with spouse (girlfriend or boy-area through activities in or out af school.
g p7ge,.
friend). Being married or having a girlfriend or J. Personal understanding and planning.
De-ig of the boyfriend. The relationship involves love, com-veloping and gaining orientation, purpose, and
,, wust panionship, sexual satisfaction, understanding, guiding principles for one's life. This may in-c mmunication, appreciation, devotion, and con-volve becoming more mature, gaining insight into
.he Fichi i
titute of tentment.
and acceptance of one's assets and limitations, ex.
.he 0ffice.
D. Having and raising children. Having chil-periencing and awareness of personal growth and f,"
dren and becoming a parent. This relationship development, and realizing the ability to influence I
Darlene involves watching their development, spending the course of one's life signincantly.. It also in-research time with them and enjoying them. Also in-cludes making decisions and planning life activities duded are things like molding, guiding, helping, and roles. For some people, a major component IE Itu, appreciating, and learning from them and with arises from religious or spiritual experiences or them.
activities.
AA!ERICAN PSYClioloGIST ' FEPRUARY, 1978
- 139 i
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i K. Occupation <./ role (job). Having interesting, 15 years old when they participated in the 2-day' challenging, rewanling, worthwhile work in a job data-collection survey known as Project TALENT in or home. This includes doing well, using one's 1960. The 1,000 individuals were about 30 years abilities, learning and producing, obtaining recog-old at the time of the 1975 interview. They con.
nition. and accomplishing on the job.
tributed information on elementary and secondary L. Creativity and personal c.rpression. Show-school experiences, adolescent development, post-ing ingenuity, originality, imagination in music, high-school training and eduation, out-of-school art, writing, handicrafts, drama, photography, activities and development, family relations, per-practical or scientinc matters, or everyday activi-sonal relations, having and raising children, occu.
ties. This also includes expressing oneself through pational history, 6nancial situation, health, leisure 1
a collection, a personal project, or an accomplish-activities and interests, friends, and evaluation of ment or achievement, life to date. This study was funded by the Field Initiated Studies Program of the Nationa' In-RECR EATioN The collection of similar data on nationally M. Sociali:ing. Entertaining at home or else-representative cohorte of 1,000 50-year-olds and where, attending parties or other social gatherings, 1,000 70-year-olds has been funded by the Ad.
s meeting new people, interacting with others. It ministration on Aging, Of6ce of Human Develop-may include participation in socializing organiza-ment, Department of Health, Education, and i
tions and clubs.
Welfare. Because the interviewing of the selected N. Passive and observational recreational ac.
cohorts has not yet been completed, the results tivities. Participating in various kinds of passive reported here are based on samples of 600 50-recreation, such as watching television, listening to year-olds and 600 70-year-olds.
However, the music, reading, going to the movies, and going to consistency of results obtained from studying the entertainment or sports events. It also involves interviews in sets of 200 as they have been com-appreciating the art and beauty in many aspects of pleted suggests that they will not change much
- life, with the addition of the remaining 400 cases in O. <lctive and participatory recreational activi-each af these two age groups.
ties. Participating in various kinds of active rec-For each cohort, people were asked to report reation, such as sports, hunting, 6shing, boating, how important each of the 15 factors defining j
camping, vacation travel, and sightseeing, etc.
quality of life was to them currently. These re-l This may also involve playing sedentary or active sponses were made on a 5-point scale (very im.
f games, singing, playing an instrument, dancing, portant, important, moderately important, only
'3 acting, etc.
slightly important, and not at all important).
j 'q This first step in this program provided an em.
For each of the 15 factors, participants were i
pirically derived criterion denning the quality of also asked to report how well their needs and _
i life for Americans. It was completed in 1974 and wants were being met. These responses were also a
@q g represents an important step in the field of re.
made on a 5-point scale (ver'y well, well, moder-search on quality of life. It is important to note ately well, only slightly well, and not at all well),'
that a priori sets of categories used by other in.
For each response on both "importance" and'
. ['
vestigators have many of the same dimensions but "needs met," the. interviewees were asked why
Af leave out a few important ones or add in some they responded as they did. They were also
[O irrelevancies, asked what things were interfering with their needs t fg being met more fully.
{
dkh Surveying the Quality of Life of Americans The findings for all three age groups, in terms
/ q {j[
of the percentages in each group reportmg that the, j l The second step in the program as formulated was 15 factors were important or very important to;
- 4g to conduct a national survey to assess the quality their quality of life and that their needs and,,
g of life of adults and collect data on the most wants were well or very well met, are shown in' promising opportunities for improving it.
'I n Table 1.
j t ' -# [
first survey was completed in 1975. Three-hour The findings from these surveys rnay be sum-marized by saying that most of the adults in th Ih,3 interviews were conducted with a nationally rep.
3 resentative age cohort of 1,000 persons who were country report that their needs and wants are,
( )
140 + FEBRUARY 1978 + AMERICAN Psycnot.ocIsT t
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p ti day p utx !
'ql' T in
.ittam 5 a Sainf>le d Ipn.Wycar. olds, NM 50-year-olds, and NX) 70-year-olds Reporting Each of gw 15 Components as important or l'ery important to l'hcir Quality of Life" astd Perrenw Un h
o,arenthr s i Reportine Their. rrds as ll' ell.11et or l'erv il* ell Met for rach romtwnent Iary "p
q' 01 the M me Na m p c
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Male Female f
ioSt-am n >rs 70 yrs 30 yrs so ra to yra v
hool comp = m
~
per.
Phs sical and material weibbeing i.1/a/erial comforts-things like a desirable home, good food, 80 85 87 75 86 87 M
NfC possmions, "onvenien es, an im reasing income, and (74)
(73)
(75)
(76)
(69)
(74)
T A of f
seturity for the future.
g
- 11. ttralth and personal sa/cty-to be physically 6t and 98 96 95 98 98 96 I
field vigorous. to be free from anxiety and dir, tress, and to (86)
(84)
(85)
(86)
(81)
(80)
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g asoid bodily harm.
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1 ally Relatbns with other people
.hnd
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C. Relationships with your parents, broll.ers, sisters, and otiier 68 63 60 83 76 78 k
't Ad.
f relatives-things like communicating, visiting, under-(81)
(72)
(74)
(81)
(72)
(70) standing, doing things, and helping and being helped
. {
gg hv them.
and p, fjning and raising children-this involves lieing a parent 84 85 83 93 92 88
?cted and helping, teaching, and caring for your children.
(80)
(86)
(80)
(83)
(86)
(84)
'still5 E. Clw relationship with a husband /uifr/a person of the 90 88 85 94 83 46
[
50 opposite net (84)
(80)
(88)
(81)
(71)
(70) the F. Clostfriends-sharing activities, interests, and siews; 71 76 70 79 80 87 d
f being accepted, visiting, giving and receiving help, love, (81)
(82)
(78)
(82)
(78)
(77)
! the trust, support, guidance.
y nuch social. community, and civic activities
~
71 74 - 78 J
G. Helpine and encouraging others-ihis meludes adults or 60 71 64 es in k'
children other than relatives or close friends. These can (61)
(72)
(71)
(62)
(73)
(75)
M ji be your own etTorts or etTurts as a member of some church, eport club, or volunteer group.
- 11. Participation in activities relating to local and national 47 62 64 42 38 58
'y e re-gg,,nment and public agairs.
(54)
(63)
(63)
(54)
(64)
(62)
.f 1 i
),
im-y only Personal development and fulnllment L Learning, attending school, improving your understanding, 87 68 50 81 67 60 y
i or getting addjtional knowledge.
(58)
(66)
(75)
(50)
(57)
(64)
.l g i_
J. Understanding yourself ard knowing your assets and 84 84 80 92 90 88 g f were and limitations, knowing w hat life is all about and making (74)
(77)
(75)
(71)
(77)
(81)
N
- abo decisions on major life activities. For some people, this j {
oder-includes religious or spiritual experiences. For others,it is an attitude toward life or a philosophy.
K. IVork in a job or at home that is interesting, rewarding, 91 90 55 89 85 59
[,
,ye]} ),
and (79)
(77)
(75)
(~19)
(68)
(79) worthwhile.
n L. Expressing yourselfin a creative manner in music, art, 48 39 36 53 54 58
+
why i
abo writing. photography, practical activities or in lesiure-(60)
(69)
(73)
(57)
(69)
(72)
$y needs time activities.
h Recreation M. Socializing-meeting other people, doing things with 48 47 49 53 49 60 terms g
them, and giving or attending parties.
(73)
(73)
(72)
(74)
(69)
(73) j 3
nt A
N. Reading, listening to music, or obserung sporting events or 36 45 52 53 56 63 a
Y
' an" entertainment.
(71)
(73)
(81)
(70)
(75)
(80) f1 i
xn in O. Participation in active recreation-such as sports, traveling 59 48 47 50 '
52 52 p
and. sightseeing, playing games or cards, singing, dancing, (M)
(59)
(63)
(63)
(62)
(67) d playing an instrument, acting, and other such activities.
sum-
- "At this time in your lite. how important to you is
?"
U b For so-snd 70 vear olds. the question read. "How well are your nee h. id wants being met in this regard?" For the 30-year olds, the ques-
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S are tion read. "How sat shed are you with your status in this respect?"
i AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST
- FEBRUARY 1978
- 141 i*,
5*
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i well met in the areas mo3t important to their great as that for the men. None of the 15 factors,
quality of life. A second notable tinding is the shows a significantly higher importance level for '
striking similarity of the reports for the three age 70-year-ohl as compared with 50-year-old men.
cohorts. and for the men a.
compared to the However, the 70-year-old women show abstan-
~.'
women. 3Iore than 95'; of both the men and tially higher reports on the impor*.ance of social-the women in 'hese three ate groups state that i:ing, close friends, and passive recreation as com-health a:rd /crsonal safety is important or very pared with the 50-year-olds. This appears to re, important to them.
In each group, more than sult directly from the fact that only 37% of these 80(; report that their needs and wants in thi3 women have a spouse at age 70.
area are well met.
The two other factors that Another question in the survey of 50- and 70-more than 80', of each of the six groups report year-olds asked them to name the three areas as important to their quality of life are having that tended most to make their quality of life good and raising children and understanding yourscif. at the present time. About hali of both the men 3Iore tLm S0!; of ecch of the six groups report and women at age 50 reported that close relation.
their needs and wants are well met with respect ship with spouse was one such area. Nearly as T
to having and raising children. Vor understanding many of the men at age 70 cited spouse as one yourself, most of the corresponding 6gures are of the chief facton. in making their life good.
~.'
about 75';.
Less than a quarter of the 70-year-old women There are two factors that more than 80 of cited spouse, fm the obvious wason that most of 6ve of the six groups report are important to them did not have a spouse. The area next most their quality of life. These are close relationship frequently mentioned as tending to make their lives with a spouse and matcrial comforts. For woraen. uood for both the men and the women at ages 50 i
only 375; of the 70-year-olds and 74(; of the and 70 was having and raising children. This was 50-year-olds have a spouse. Alore thna 809 of reported by well over half the 50-year-old women the other four gn.ups report their need and wants and by about 40;; of the 70-year-old women and are well met on this dimension. For material the 50-year-old men. Only about 30% of the 70-comforts, the older men and women show a slight year-old men reported it as one of the three areas increa3e in the importance assicned. At ace 70.
tending most to make their quality of life good, about S79 of men and women report that material The other areas mentioned were scattered. Only comforts are important, but at age 30, only 75(;
hcalth, helping and encouraging others, and clor of the women say it is important to their quality friends were reported by close to 20% of all four of life. This could be a function of either a of these groups. About 25c/< of the 50-year-old different set of values in the young cohort or a men mentioned work and material comforts. As
[
change in importance assigned in the older groups would be expected for the 70-year-old men, mste-iesulting from increased esperience. In all six rial comforts was more frequently mentioned and
' groups, about 75? report their raaterial needs are work,less frequently mentioned.
i j
'I well met.
There is substantial agreement among all six 1
Work is important to more than 90% of the groups on the areas that tend to detract from the H
men and 85% of the women at ages 30 and 50 quality of life. The groups are in general agree-and is still important to more than half of both ment that the four areas in which their needs ue men and wamen at aue 70. At all ages, about not well met are participation in local and na-L; 75% report their needs are well met.
tional government, learning, participation in ac-SIore than 10% of the men and 80% of the tive recreation, and expressing yourself in a crea.
j women at all three ages report close friends are tive manner. In each of these areas, about one y
important to their quality of life. About 80% in third of each group reports that their needs are
,, (f ;
[, a each of the groups report their needs are well met.
only moderately or less well met. In most of
- '/3 I For both the men and the women, there is a these four areas, there is a slight but not always j if marked drop in the importance assigned to learning consistent tendency for the higher age groups to B
by the older cohorts. The drop is greater for men.
report that their needs are better met.
i/
Learning is reported as fourth in importance at The areas that the 50 and 70-year-olds report
)
age 30 for men, but at age 70, it is reported as as tending to make their quality of life poor are "WD 12th in importance. Although the women also somewhat different from the areas which these show a substantial drop, it is only about half as croups report as not having their needs well met f
142
- FEBRUARY 1978 a AMERtCAN PSYCHot,oGIST l
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j in. leading all lists in this respect and mentioned as " excellent" and about 559 for those reporting by about 25'i of both 50- and 70-year-old males their overall quality of life as " fair" or " poor."
ami by 30'; of both 50- and 70-year-ohl female 3 It is e3pecially interesting to note that the three t
3howing the lowest correlations with the re-is material < om/mts. For the 70-year-ohls, hralth, area 3 trarning, and ac ti: c ircreation also receive fre-ports on overall quality of life are relatives, hur-quent mention. Vor the 50-yea -ohls learning, ing and raising children, and participation in local health, and participation in loc al and national and national government. Vor these three areas, frequently mentioned.
the differences in percentages were smaller, with
)
government are At the clo e of their interviews, the 50- and 70-about 20% of the 254 persons who reported their 4-year old groups were asked, "At the present time, overall quality of life to be " excellent" reporting how wouhl you describe your overall qua'ity of that their needs and wants were not well met.
l 3
life?" The options given were " excellent." "very About 40') of the 177 persons reporting their j
goodf " good." " fair / and "poorf About 20 9 overall quality of life to be " fair" or " poor" in of each of these four groups answered " excellent"-
these three areas reported that their needs were 3
about 35'1 answered "very good", about 30 9 not well met.
answered " good" 129 answered " fair" and 39
!/aving and raising children was teported as im-s answered "poorf Thus, 859 of these 50- and portant or very important to the quality of life e
70-year-olds reported that their quality of life by between S3% and 93% of all age groups.
wa3 " good" or l etter. There was rather good However, when the 50- and 70-year-olds report n
agreement among the four groups, with 8W of their present overall quality of life, the extent i
g a
the men as compared with 849-of the women to which their needs and wants are met in this area receives little weight. Similarly, although
.s indicatine that their quality of life was " good" or t
0 more persons in these age groups say that their
- better,
,s needs and wants are not well met with respect to p ruapanon in Wal and nanonal government j
n d
Analyzing tlic Scif-Reports on Qualitv than for any other area, they tend to ignore how I
h of Life well their needs are met.m this area when de-
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Since the self-reports obtained in the surveys de-scribing their overall quality of life.
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t scribed above are all somewhat subjective in char-Before discussing the relative validity of the f
acter, it was believed desirable to carry out some various types of subjective reports discussed above,
- h y
analyses to check on the relationships among the let us examine the intercorrelations of the reports g.
Q(;
various types of reports. The 6rst analysis in-on the extent to which the needs and wants of d
volved calculating, for the 50- and 70-year-cids, the 50- and 70 year-olds were met with respect to correlation coef6cients between the individual's each of the 15 components. The intercorrelations j
u (h;
overall rating of the quality of life and his or her between the ratings for the 15 components vary g
reports as to how well needs and wants were somewhat from one group to another. The re-being met in each of the 15 areas.
suits from the four matrices also differ slightly.
- x The six areas showing the largest correlation A varimax rotated factor matrix based on the Tj E
w coef6cients with overall quality of life were mate-intercorrelations of the 50-year-old women indi-rial comforts, health, work, active recreation, learn-cates three iairly clear-cut linkages that are gen-
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c.
ing, and creative expression. These correlations erally connrmed by the other intercorrelation ma-7e can be expressed in a slightly different way as trices and varimax rotations. The first factor has N]
a.
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- i lj follows
- Of the 254 pers<ms in the 50- and 70-its major factor loadings on material comforts, o,
year-old groups who reported their overall quality work, and health. The second factor includes
,e j'
of life n " excellent," only 6% indicated that their close friends and socializing, and the third factor j
re or needs and wants with respect to material comforts includes learning and creative expression. The were not well met. Of the 177 persons in these four components for which the reports on how well hi-y3
.g groups who reported their overall quality of life needs and wants are met show the least relation-i to t
as " fair" or " poor," there were 64% who indicated ship with the ratings of the other 14 areas con-their needs and wants were not well met with re-tributing to the quality of life of these groups are b
spect to ma'tirial romforts. For the other five relatives, children, spouse, and passive recreation.
f
,rt
.re areas, the compan. ole figures are about 15% for The contributions of each of these areas to the 1-3e j
those who reported their overall quality of life overall quality of life of these adults appear to i
iet i
AMERICAN Ps'.cuotocisr
- FEBRUARY l')78
- 143 l
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be unique and not dependent on other contribu. selective. A recent experience nay distort the tions. As was intended in 3etting them up, these report. In responding to a question about the 15 components detining the quality of life tend to importance of children or relatives, an older per-be fairly independent, and only a relatively small son may he reflecting on past experiences rather amount of the variance i.s included in the three than reporting on recent day to-day events. It is factors noted above. Each component makes its easy to overlook the contributions made by mate-a own contribution to quality of life.
rial comforts if they are always there, but those As has beca noted, the various types of survey who lack them are painfully aware on their im-questions tend to be in general agreement but in a portance.
few cases give somewhat different results. What Two areas reported to be quite high in impor-are the strengths and weaknesses of these types tance by all groups but for which reports on how L
of self reports? First, the possibility of using more well needs are met do not appea.r to have a sig.
i objective measures should be examined. For some nificant relation to reports of present overall areas, such as material comforts, it would be com-quality of life for 50- and 70-year olds are hating l
paratively easy to get objective data on the mone-and raising children and understanding yourself.
tary value of the house, furnishings, cars, and These areas do not appear to have much influence i
food. it would also be possible to obtain informa-on the daily lives and feelings of well-being of tion on salary as a measure of a person's job. these older age groups. On the other hand, actice Health becomes much more difficult to measure recreation, to which none of the three age groups objectively. With respect to some other areas, gives very great importance, shows a fairly sub-such as active recreation, Icarning, and socializing, stantial relation between the extent to which needs one could use time as a measure. For most of for it are met and the reports on overall quality the areas, such as children, spouse, creative ex-of life. Thus, it would appear to have more im-pression, and understanding yourself, objective, portance to their daily lives than these groups quantitative measures become extremely difficult, realize.
"l if not impossible, to obtain. National social indi-With these few minor exceptions, the general cators do not indude most of the individual com-findines from the various subjective reports tend i
ponents that determine quality of life. The greater to be in substantial agreement. Although a more relevance of the personal evaluations appe ars accurate and valid measure of quality of life could obvious.
certainly be obtained from a daily record of the What would be the " ideal" approach to mea-positive and negative contributors, the present re-suring an individual's quality of life? Such an ports appear to provide one useful source of es-approach would certainly have to include the sential !nformation for efforts to improve the importance given to each area by the individual. quality of life.
Each experience of the individual would be evalu-ated for its contribution either positively or nega.
tively. To make nt practical to nmplement such Using the individual as the Unit to Study an evaluation, only those experiences that had a the Social Determiners of Quality of Life
u significant or noteworthy impact on the individ-Survey data such as those described in the prev:ous a
ual's quality of life would be recorded. It seems section are of great value in describing present M $ j~-
likely that only the individuals themselves could status. They can summarize efficiently defined
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be expected to make these observations and keep characteristics of a specified group of individuals 4
the record. Individuals would require some train-and contribute to the study of the interrelations of y, 9,.
ing and supervision to carry out this task effec-various characteristics. Typical analyses using 3
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<f tively. A daily record of critical incidents re-measures of central tendency, variability, and in-yIy garding the contributing and detracting experiences tercorrelations are useful and informative, but they j
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that comprise the individual's quality of life would fail in many, instances to provide a sound under.
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Since such " ideal" measures are not available, frequently overh>ok the principal causal factors jc [
be as close to the " ideal" criterion measure of standing of how and why the individual achieved
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quality of life as might be reasonably attained.
his or her present status. Such analyses therefore j
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,,. what can be said about the measures being used? and fail to provide insight into the types of j 1k Of course they suffer from all the defects that changes that can be expected to make the greatest l p
subjective ratings have. Memories are faulty and improvements in these individuals' quality of life.
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1 144 FEsacAny 1978
- AnfEHICAN PSYCHot.oGIS'T L
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. p, To rendy tMs Mect, procedures have been to be the principal This teacher said that Lilia
.he developed to use the individual a3 the unit in had a lot of art talent. In high school, Lilia took studying 30cial determiners of the quality of life, college preparatory courses. Though she would i
.he This requires not only ob'ainine the u3nal types have liked more art instruction, her high school l
er.
l wr of statu3 information but also collecting additional offered only one art course.
data that will indicate how and why the present On the Project T.u.Est Interest Inventory in
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[3 stc "s was reached. From the inten3ive study 1960 Lilia indicated that she liked artistic and j
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of one person at a time, the facts regarding the musical activities very much. On the Ability ase changes that would have made or would now make Tests, she scored very high in Visualization in 3D,
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this individual's present quality of life better can Abstract Reasoning, and Introductory 3f ath. She J
l usually be identined. By aggregating the fmdings scored fairly high in 3!echanical Reasoning:
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a from such intensive studies of individuals com-little above average in Vocabulary, English, Crea.
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iow cig.
Prising fairly large and representative samples, in.
tivity, and Arithmetic Reasoning; and average in rall sights into the optimal changes to improve the Reading Comprehension and Computation, q
ing lc/f, quality of life of the whole population can be Lilia started college in a nearby state in 1962, j
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gained.
majoring in
'-ne economics with a minor in Ger-q 1
man. Whik at college, she met her husband, and nce To show the importance of the explanatory in-
, of formation, the self reports of one of the individuals they were married in 1964 That same year, Lilia ire in the 30 year-old sample are presented below and lef t school. Lilia and her husband have no chil-followed by a brief abstract of the more complete dren. She says she is not interested in having any ups u b.
information available about her. Lilia Jorgenson and that her husband agrees with her.
J ceds jity reported that material comforts, health, spousc, For the past 4 years, Lilia has worked for a i
and work were very important to her quality of private company that sells various lines of furni-im.
J life. She reported that friends, Icarning, under-ture. She started with the company in a clerical standing self, creatire erpression, and sociali:ing and sales position and moved into design coordina-j ups
]j eral were important. Helping others, active recreation, tion and sales. Currently, she does design coor-and passire recreation were indicated to be mod-dination mainly for of6ces but also for hotels, end erately important. Participation in government building lobbies, and even homes. Lilia's husband
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,uld was reported as only slightly important. Rclatires is employed as a research associate doing research n
and haring and raising children were reported as and development on cardiovascular instruments-
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the not at all important. She said she was very satis-tion such as pacers and kidney equipment. Lilia il fied with respect to her work, participation in expected her 1974 earnings, including sales com-ji re.
the goternment, and having and raising children ; missions, to be $12,000-$13,000, and her husband's y
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satis 6ed with her health, spouse, hc/ ping others, to be $11,000. She says their combined salaries f i understanding self, and passive recreation; mod. meet their needs only slightly well because they erately satisfied with her matcrial comforts, learn-always need something for their home or they jf h
ing, creative expression, and active recreation; and must have some kind of repair work done. It is only slightly satisfied with her status with respect very important to Lilia to have material comforts, 6
iou 3 to close friends, relatires, and socializing.
and she is only moderately satisfied with her k
{h These self-reports tell us something but give us present status in this area.
sent no understanding of the reasons why these condi-Lilia rates her present health as very good. She ined uals tions exist and are viewed this way. Contrast says that being healthy and physically fit is very 4-s of them with the insights available from the follow-important to her, and she is currently satisfied in
. j sing ing greatly abbreviated abstract of the Prcject this respect except that she does not swim for 3 ;_
in.
TALENT data and the 3-hour interview.
exercise as much as she has intended. At home, M
[h they Lilia Jorgenson was in the 10th grade in a her husband does most of the cooking because he der.
private high school in a large Slidwestern city is better at it. Lilia enjoys reading and watching when she participated in the 1960 Project TALENT some TV, but such passive recreation is only mod-
.Q 2ved After her father died in 1957, she went erately important to her, as her life revolves around g
. fore survey.
to live with her grandmother, whom she considered her work. On Saturdays, she and her husband do d
l, of her guardian. She was an only child.
yard work, use their swimming pool, ga boating, or j
- tors lttest In elemeltary school, she said she was par-read. Ehe says active recreation is only moderately l life.
titularly inspired by one teacher, who happened important to her. She is satisfied with her leisure AMERICAN Psycnotocist
- FELRUARY 19%
145 M
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t, activities but wishes they had more " social" friends she needs as revealed in the interview is not an-rather than business friends. Socializing is im-other social center for the elderly but adequate 5
portant to Lilia, but she is only slightly satisned transportation service.
in this area. She likes to go out with people, These two cases illustrate the fact that self-whereas her hu.sband prefers to stay home and reports on surveys are very difficult to interpret watch TV or read Having close friends is im-and are especially difficult to utilize in designing portant to Lilia, and she has one or two whom programs to improve the quality of life of those she met at work and in an apartment building surveyed. Each individuals situation needs to be where she and her husband once lived. But she studied to gain insights into effective remtdial would like to have more close friends.
social programs.
Expressing herself creatively is also important to Lilia. However, because she lacks the time to Designing a Compulcra;mulation do the thmus she thinks she is capable of doing, she is only moderately satisfied with her current Approach fo identifying and Developing Programs to Improve the Quality of Life creative activities. It is important to Lilia to con-tinue developing intellectually. She is only mod. It is proposed that by using the detailed informa-erately satisned in this area and would like to tion on individuals comprising representative na-learn more about the background of interior design, tional samples of 30, 50, and 70-year-olds, a Lilia feels that she has a clearer set of goals simulation model of the adult population can be than she had in hich school. Her plans for the recorded on computer tape for use in testing hy.
l future invohe continuing her design coordination potheses regarding effective social programs for work and making more money.
improving the quality of life. It is intended that A comparison of the self report ratings with the this model include in its predictions, to as great reasons for these reports is certainly illuminating. an extent as possible, unintended effects as well Lilia reports she is only moderately satisfied or as the main intended effects. It is also proposed less well satisfied with close friends, socializing, that the effects on each individual's quslity of life t
i material comforts, creative expression, and learning be evaluated in terms of his or her personal values
-all of which are importai t or very important to and needs rather than those that some central i
her quality of life. What mcial programs should national authority believes all people have or be urged to improve her quahty o~ life? Probably should have.
none in her case.
On the basis of recent work in analyzing the A family income for two people of $24,000 per lives in one of these groups, the representative year, a swimming pool, a boat, eating many meals national sample of 30-year-olds, it is believed that in restaurants, and a nice home in a well-to-do experienced social scientists can make objective
, l 3 suburban neighborhood would certainly place Lilia and reliable estimates regarding an individual's
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j in the top 5% or 10% of young adults in terms present needs and the effects on an individual's M
of material comforts. Many respondents who said overall quality of life of specific social programs.
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material comforts were very important to them re.
The funedons of the social scientists would in-pA ported themselves satisfied in this area with much clude (a) studying abstrxted cases and making 2 id less. The basic problem concerning her lack of judgments about both the importance of various
'"i satisfaction with close friends and socializing is areas to the individual's quality of life and the that her husband prefers to stay home and watch extent to wh:ch his or her needs and wants in these O
TV or read. Certainly the opportunities for both areas were being met, (b) predicting what changes yjj.
creative expression and learning are available to would prodtce significant improvements in the 4
1, q g her. Thus, these five areas of discrepancy do not quality of lite for each individual in the sample, dj U give us any sound basis for focusing efforts on (c) assessing for each case how well or poorly the ji j improving the quality of life for adults like Lilia. person's needs would probably be met on each of N4 As a further illustration of the need for under-the 15 quality-of-life components following a num-f
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standing the causes of specific self-reports on ber of specific positive and negative social changes "y
quality of life, consider the following. A 70-year-included in a new social program, and (d) by-
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old woman reports that her needs and wants are pothesizing programs that would result in the
%y J not at all well met in socializing and ac'ive recrea-greatest overall increase in quality of life if im-l Ld
tion, areas imnortant to her quality of life. What plemented in communities across the country.
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- FEBRtlARY 1978
- AMERICAN PSYCHot.oGIsf
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work, opportunities for particular uses of leisure The3e social :.cienti3ts would need to have exten-luate 3ive knowledee and perspective recanling both and recreational activities, and opportunities to t an-participate ir. political processes and xovernment.
people and social conditions, and procedures would The expected value of the simulation model wo need to be developed to ensure that they achieved be in making possible the prediction of the effect welf-a high deeree of reliability in their independent of a proposed social program on each person in
. rpret A
- ning evaluations of the 1000 ca3cs in the 3 ample.
the sample and the aggregation of these effects to pilot study has already been completed con 6rming determine the overall impact to be expected on the those
- o be that 30cial scientists' independent judements with quality of life of both the total population and re3pect to the 6rst of these functions can be ex.
edial This pilot study various subgroups.
pected to be in good agreement.
As an initial check on the expected validity of used a national panel of 20 social sdentist3.
the model, it is proposed that several communities It is planned that this information be used to be selected to represent widely varying degrees suggest bene 6cial social modincations in this coun-of the implementation of two or three well-defined try and to determine through the use of the model the effects on the quality of life of proposed social social programs. The 6rst step would be to The 30cial modi 6 cations hypothesized and describe the precise extent to which each pro-to increase overall quality of life will be derived gram was implemented in each community. Usin
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programs the model predictions would be made of the ex-na-Is, a hom the evaluations of which components of life pected variations in the quality of life of specinc n be are of most importance and are being poorly met
- hy-for large numbers of individuals. The individual-types of persons as a result of the known degree of implementation of the social program m that
- for based model for predicting the effects of a pro.
community. The validity of the moders predic-posed social program on the quality of life will lions of the effects from these social programs on that allow separate predictions for various seements of the quality of life of the various specifk types of great ociety, indicating whethu the bene 6ts would be Well used accrued primarily by people already well situated people in the community would be cnecked by interviewing representative samples to determine f life in life or whether the quality of life would be the actual quality of life of those in the com-alues improved most for those persons most in need of munity and the roles of each of the 15 contribu-ntral some assistance or opportunity. It would al30 he possible to determine which of several chances tors in producing these results.
The 6nal step planned for evaluating the validity e or would improve the quality of life for the most of the model is to use it to predict the effect of a j
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t the peoph community prior Preliminary reviews of a small sample of these new social program in a i...
to its installation and to assess the quality of life a ttve that interviews suggest some speci6c changes that would ctive significantly improve the quality of life of adults of representative samples of the community bef j
These include improving hous-and after the change is made. The development and validation of a simulation model that would
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luaPs in this country.
luars ing, transportation services, personal security pro-
. ams.
tection services, health care services, personal make it possible to predict the outcomes to be
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l l in-knowledge of health maintenance and health care, expected from large social programs would rep sent a major contribution to the nation's quality sking opportunities for various specinc types of education of life.
and training, opportunities for appropriate types of "8
I the these mges the
, mple, y the ch of s
num-2rges hy-the Iim-ntry.
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AhtERICAN PsYcuotocist FEBRUARY 1978
- 147 wm
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@ ftto A9 UNITED STATES
'8 o['n -
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 7,, -
~t-WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
%.....)
fiay 26,-1987 MEMORANDUM FOR:
John Milligan Technassociates.
FROM:
Emile L. Julian Reting Chief.
Docketing and~ Service Branch i
SUBJECT:
Snec c ham EXHIBITS Any documents filed :on the open ' record in. the Snocehm. pro--
l ceeding and made a part of the. official hearing record _as an.
exhibit is considered exempt from the. provisions of the United-l States Copyright Act, unless it was originally filed under seal i
with the court expressly because of copyright concerns.
All of the documents sent to TI for processing fall within the exempt classification.
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