Citizens from East- and West-Germany as reflected in three questionnaires. Primary data.

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

Research Design:

Fully Standardized Survey Instrument (provides question formulation and answer options); single measurement

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

The Trier Personality Inventory (TPI) was developed primarily for the diagnosis of mental health and its subcomponents. Mental health is a broadly varying, well-replicable "super construct" of personality. In short, it is the ability to cope with external and internal demands. 120 statements about specific behaviors, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes are presented. The subjects rate these statements using a 4-point scale, indicating the statement's prevalence. The "Berlin Procedure for the Diagnosis of Neuroses" (Berliner Verfahren zur Neurosendiagnostik, BVND) is used to record complaints and self-concept characteristics pertaining to the experience of psychosocial disorders. Subjects are presented with 300 statements about certain behaviors, characteristics, and symptoms that allow them to identify their condition using a 5-point response scale. The "Trier Inventory for Behavioral Control" (Trierer Inventar zur Verhaltenskontrolle, TIV) is used primarily to measure the overall personality structure of control as well as its various components. 120 statements about certain behaviors, feelings, and thoughts of each subject can be assessed with regard to their frequency of occurrence using a 4-point response scale. Survey data collection takes place in the absence of the experimenter and the completed questionnaire is subsequently collected by the experimenter.

Data Collection Method:

Data collection in the absence of an experimenter
Distribution and later collection of the questionnaires from the participants

Population:

East and West Germans in a reunified Germany

Survey Time Period:

1991

Sample:

50 students majoring in psychology at the University of Trier and the Humboldt University of Berlin were hired as project staff and were carefully instructed, both orally and in writing, of their duties. Each project team member was to recruit 6 people who had specific characteristics: 3 men and 3 women put into groups of 2 (1 man, 1 woman) aged 18-35 years, 36-50 years, and 51-65 years. A maximum of 1 person with a German high school diploma and a maximum of 1 personal relative were allowed. The population of each German state was taken into consideration using a quota key.

Gender Distribution:

49,8 % female subjects (n=298)
50,2 % male subjects (n=300)

Age Distribution: 18-69 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

The subjects were recruited by previously selected project staff. Both staff and project subjects were given monetary compensation for their participation. Each staff member's specific approach was monitored through random checks.

Sample Size:

598 individuals

Return/Drop Out: