Question

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An average of 13% of adults worldwide rated their lives poorly enough to be considered "suffering," according to Gallup surveys in 146 countries in 2011. The percentage rating their current and future lives poorly enough to be considered suffering was as high as 45% in Bulgaria and as low as 1% or less in the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Thailand, and Brazil. Gallup classifies respondents as "thriving," "struggling," or "suffering" according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10 based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Gallup considers people to be suffering if they rate their current lives a 4 or lower and their lives in five years a 4 or lower. The respondents do not label themselves as suffering. Average global suffering has remained relatively unchanged over the past several years. One in four or more residents in 18 countries rated their lives poorly enough to be classified as suffering. Bulgaria had the negative distinction of leading the global suffering list, as it did last year. Yemen, Armenia, and El Salvador followed closely behind, with one in three or more residents suffering in each of these countries. The countries where suffering is highest are primarily a mix of European, African, and Asian nations. This list heavily features several European nations that the global financial crisis has adversely affected and where leaders have responded with austerity measures. Several are also former socialist societies, including Bulgaria, Armenia, and Serbia. Suffering spiked in places such as Iran, Afghanistan, and El Salvador last year -- earning them a spot near the top of the world's most suffering list. Suffering was 3% or less in 24 countries -- most of them wealthier and more developed countries. Three percent of Americans were suffering in 2011, as has been the case in past years.

Survey Methods Results are based on face-to-face and telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults per country, aged 15 and older, conducted in 2011 in 146 countries. Results in Russia, Tunisia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Bahrain, Yemen, Comoros, Somaliland region, and Iraq are based on data aggregated from multiple surveys. For results based on the total samples, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error ranges from ±1.7 percentage points to ±5.7 percentage points. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

1. _________What is the population being surveyed? a) Adults worldwide b) Adults in 146 countries c) 146,000 adults 2. _________What are the sample sizes of the surveys? a) 1,000 b) 146 c) 146,000 3. _________If we were to draw conclusions about subgroups in surveyed nations, for example groups that lived in urban slums vs. groups that lived in rural areas, and wanted to maintain the .95 confidence level without sampling more people, would the margin of error increase, decrease, or stay the same? a) Increase b) Decrease c) Stay the same 4. _________In this poll, respondents were asked to rate the quality of their lives on a scale of 0-10, and to also rate what they expected their lives to be like in five years using the same scale. The word “suffering” was never used. Why would using the word “suffering” be inappropriate to this survey? a) Problems with the question: it could sway respondents to answer one way (some people will not admit to a stranger if they are suffering). b) Different people use the word “suffering” differently. c) Both of these

Answer 1

1. The population being surveyed were the adults of 146 countries. These Gallup surveys were carried out in 2011, the results of the surveys indicate that 13%of the population who lived in poverty considered their lives to be "suffering".

Answer. b). Adults in 146 countries.

2. The sample sizes of surveys were approximately 1000 adults from each country. The survey methods included face-to-face interviews or telephone interviews. The age of the sample were adults of 15 years and above.

Answer. Option a). 1000

3. The margin of error would stay in the range of +_1.7% to +_5.7.

Answer. Option c) stay the same.

4. Introducing the word "suffering" in the survey would make the people not to admit their real situation before an stranger, and also this word may be taken for different life situations that the individuals are going through.

Answer. Option c) Both of these.