Examining the Appropriateness of Importance Weighting on Satisfaction Score from Range-of-Affect Hypothesis: Hierarchical Linear Modeling for Within-Subject Data

• Published in: Social indicators research Vol. 86; no. 1; pp. 101 - 111
• Main Author: Wu, Chia-huei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.03.2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Attitudes; Data analysis; Emotions; Foreign Countries; Hierarchical Linear Modeling; Hierarchies; History, theory and methodology; Human Geography; Hypotheses; Interaction; Items (Measures); Job satisfaction; Life Satisfaction; Linear analysis; Linear models; Logical givens; Mathematical models; Measurement; Measurement Techniques; Measures; Methodology; Microeconomics; Perception tests; Perceptual localization; Propriety; Public Health; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Questionnaires; Regression (Statistics); Regression analysis; Resistance (Psychology); Satisfaction; Social research; Social Sciences; Sociology; Studies; Suburbs; Taiwan; Term weighting; Undergraduate Students; Weighted Scores; Weighting; Welfare measurement; Within-subjects design; Taiwan; Importance; Discrepancy; Hierarchical linear modeling; Satisfaction; Quality of life; Measurement; Model; Quality of Life; Questionnaire
• ISSN: 0303-8300; 1573-0921
• DOI: 10.1007/s11205-007-9103-9

This study examines the range-of-affect hypothesis in a within-subject context using the weighting situation faced in quality of life (QOL) measurement. Data collected in Wu and Yao's (2006b) study were used (332 undergraduates at National Taiwan University). The mean age was 19.80 years (std = 1.98). They completed a QOL questionnaire and indicated satisfaction, importance, and perceived have–want discrepancy on 12 life domains. Hierarchical linear modeling with a random-coefficients regression model was applied. At the first level (within-individual level), the satisfaction scores for each item were regressed on the have-want discrepancy, importance, and the interaction between have-want discrepancy and importance (have-want discrepancy × importance) of the same item. At the second level (between-individual level), the intercept, coefficients of have-want discrepancy, importance and the interaction between have-want discrepancy and importance at the first level were regarded as varying randomly over all participants. Results of this study supported the range-of-affect hypothesis, showing that the relationship between item have-want discrepancy and item satisfaction is stronger for high importance items than low importance items for a given individual. Implications for important weighting on item satisfaction scores were discussed.