Responding to daily event questionnaires: the influence of the order of hassle and uplift scales

Abstract

Two studies demonstrated differences in hassle and uplift ratings of daily events as a function of questionnaire order and format. In the first study, 123 undergraduates rated 143 events as both sources of hassles and sources of uplifts. The order of completion of hassle and uplift ratings had a substantial impact on uplift ratings, but only a minor impact on hassle ratings. Events were rated less uplifting when these ratings followed rather than preceded hassle ratings. The second study replicated this asymmetric order effect for hassle and uplift ratings when events were restricted to the 53-item Delongis scale and when a middle-aged sample was used (n D 104). Furthermore, prior hassle ratings were shown to suppress uplift ratings not only when the two sets of ratings were separated, but also when the typical combined format of the Delongis scale was used. In this combined format, events are listed in a central column and one set of ratings (e.g. hassles) is completed on the left, the other set (e.g. uplifts) on the right. An additional result was that uplift ratings were higher for the combined format compared to the separated format. Results are discussed with reference to a possible effect of hassle recall/evaluation on negative mood, which may then impact on uplift recall/evaluation. The findings highlight the potentially differential impact of negative and positive events on individuals and provide a clear direction for the ordering of scales (i.e. positive before negative) in questionnaire packages.

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