29 June 1994 COR571A.WP5 (revised 9/00, 11/04) TO: WLS SUBJECT: Mailback questionnaire references, variable, and scale creation 1) Q7a-Q7d. Use these 4 variables to create a "height in inches" variable with 2 decimal places. 2) Flexible Goal Adjustment(FGA) = Q20b + Q20c + Q20g + Q20i + Q20j (All items except Q20c need to be recoded before creating the summary measure.) Tenacious Goal Pursuit(TGP) = Q20a + Q20d + Q20e + Q20f + Q20h (All items except Q20h need to be recoded before creating the summary measure.) The entire section appears in the codebook as original raw data then recoded as appropriate before being summed to create the scales. For the reverse codes: 1=5, 2=4, 3=3, 4=2, 5=1 Therefore, a higher score on Q20b+Q20c+Q20g+Q20i+Q20j = HIGH Flexible Goal Adjustment(FGA) and a lower score indicates LOW Flexible Goal Adjustment. Likewise, a higher score then on Q20a+Q20d+Q20e+Q20f+Q20h = HIGH Tenacious Goal Pursuit(TGP), low score = LOW Tenacious Goal Pursuit(TGP). Source: Short versions of Brandstadter scales (Brandstadter and Renner 1990, "Tenacious Goal Pursuit and Flexible Goal Adjustment," Psychology and Aging, 5, 58-67). See end of this document for the complete version. 3) Family stress spillover to work index= Q22a + Q22c + Q22d + Q22e Work stress spillover to family index= Q22g + Q22h + Q22k + Q22i Family enhancement spillover to work index= Q22b + Q22f + Q22j Items 22a-22k were left as raw and then recoded before being summed for creation of the scales (1=5,2=4,3=3,4=2,5=1). This was done in order to have scales where a higher score indicates MORE of the construct--i.e., MORE FAMILY STRESS SPILL OVER TO WORK, MORE WORK STRESS SPILLOVER TO FAMILY, MORE FAMILY ENHANCEMENT SPILLOVER TO WORK. Source: MacArthur Research Network on Successful Midlife Development (MIDMAC) If you would like to learn more about the factor structure for these scales (a more expansive version also used in the MIDUS survey) see Grzywacz & Marks, 2000, Reconceptualizing the work-family interface...., Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 111-126. 4) Hostility Index = Q18u + Q18v + q18w Source: National Survey of Families and Households, Wave 2 (New index created by William Aquilino and Nadine Marks) 5) Social Support items (Q24-Q28). We will not create additional scales for these. Source: Q24, Q25, Q28. Modified from National Survey of Families and Households. 6) Health and menopause items: Source: British Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development and Alice Rossi of MIDMAC for additional women's health items. 7) Organization items. Source: Replication of WLS 1975. NOTE: There is not an established way to create scales for these items either so I suggest we leave these mainly "raw." However, one thing we might consider is recoding into the established list some of the "other specify" responses that respondents have given that actually fit our list-- e.g., respondent who answered "tennis club" to Q29q1 might have this recoded to "sport club" with the amount of involvement also recoded to that item. I do not believe we should CREATE new categories at this point based on open-ended responses, because it is inappropriate for analysts to believe that if the new categories were presented to ALL respondents there would only be the number of cases indicated. For example, if we created a new category for National Rife Association, and recoded 4 people who indicated this affiliation into this new category, it is incorrect to assume that none of the other 8,XXX people polled wouldn't have indicated "yes" to this, too, if they had SEEN the category on their questionnaire. In short, my suggestion would be: a. recode as many of the open-ended questions as possible into other categories given in the questionnaire, and recode the level of involvement also up into that category, too, when doing so. b. retain what cases remain in the "other" categories. In our documentation notes we can explain what we have done here, and also let interested analysts know that they can find more information about the "other" cases in our archive if they truly desire it. We will also explain in our documentation that for the sibling questionnaire we actually did ADD a category to the questionnaire. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tenacious Goal Pursuit (TGP) and Flexible Goal Adjustment (FGA) (Preliminary English Version) NOTE: That the WLS version had the reverse coding for the mail questionnaire. Therefore, the creation of the summary scores required a reversal of the description below. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Response format: 4 = strongly agree, 3 = agree, 2 = neutral, 1 = disagree, 0 = strongly disagree (Items indicated with '.-" are reversed prior to scoring such that a score of x is coded as x' = 4 - x) ---------------------------------------------------------------- FGA- 1. When I get stuck on something, it's hard for me to find a new approach TGP+ 2. The harder a goal is to achieve, the more appeal it has to me TGP+ 3. 1 can be very obstinate in pursuing my goals FGA+ 4. I find it easy to see something positive even in a serious mishap TGP+ 5. When faced with obstacles, I usually double my efforts TGP- 6. To avoid disappointments, I don't set my goals too high TGP+ 7. Even when things seem hopeless, I keep on fighting to reach my goals FGA+ 8. When everything seems to be going wrong, I can usually find a bright side to a situation TGP- 9. I tend to loose interest in matters where I cannot keep up with others TGP- 10. I find it easy to give up a wish if it seems difficult to fulfill it TGP- 11. When I run up against insurmountable obstacles, I prefer to look for a new goal TGP- 12. Life is much more pleasurable when I do not expect too much from it FGA- 13. I create many problems for myself because of my high demands TGP- 14. When I have tried hard but cannot solve a problem, I find it easy just to leave it unsolved FGA+ 15. In general, I am not upset very long about an opportunity passed up FGA+ 16. I adapt quite easily to changes in plans or circumstances FGA+ 17. I usually find something positive even about giving up something I cherish TGP- 18. I avoid grappling with problems for which I have no solution FGA+ 19. I usually have no difficulties in recognizing where my limits are TGP- 20. If I find I can not reach a goal, I'd prefer to change my goal than to keep struggling FGA+ 21. After a serious drawback, I soon turn to new tasks TGP- 22. Faced with a serious problem, I sometimes simply pay no attention to it FGA+ 23. If I don't get something I want, I take it with patience FGA+ 24. Faced with a disappointment, I usually remind myself that other things in life are just as important FGA+ 25. I find that even life's troubles have their bright side FGA- 26. It is very difficult for me to accept a setback or defeat TGP+ 27. Even when a situation seems hopeless, I still try to master it TGP+ 28. I stick to my goals and projects even in face of great difficulties FGA+ 29. When I get into serious trouble, I immediately look how to make the best out of the situation FGA- 30. I'm never really satisfied unless things come up to my wishes exactly --------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The scales of Tenacious Goal Pursuit (TGP) and Flexible Goal Adjustment (FGA) are statistically independent and have to be separately scored. Internal consistencies are: TGP: Cronbach's a = >80; FGA: Cronbach's a = .83. Aspects of convergent and dis- criminant validity and psychometric properties are more fully described in Brandtstadter & Renner 1990, TENACIOUS GOAL PURSUIT AND FLEXIBLE GOAL ADJUSTMENT, Psychology and Aging, 5, 58-67. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jochen Brandtstadter Universitat Trier Fachbereieb I - Psychologie Postfach 3825 D - 5500 Trier, FRG