Primary data on "Looking at Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses: Dispositional Positive Affect is Related to the Intensity of Aesthetic Experiences"

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

H1: Dispositional positive affect increases the frequency of aesthetic experiences.
H2: Dispositional negative affect decreases the frequency of aesthetic experiences.
H3: Dispositional positive affect increases the intensity of aesthetic experiences
H4: Dispositional negative affect decreases the intensity of aesthetic experiences

Research Design:

Fully standardised survey instrument; Experience sampling method/diary study; repeated measurements

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

First, participants completed the dispositional affect questionnaires online. Dispositional affect was assessed with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson et al., 1988) and the Dispositional Positive Emotions Scales (DPES; Shiota et al., 2006). The PANAS consists of ten attributes of positive affect and ten attributes of negative affect. Items were reported on a five-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). The DPES measures the general disposition to experience seven different positive emotions. It consists of 38 items and uses a seven-point rating format (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree). The order in which the two questionnaires were presented was randomised.
During the following 14 days, participants were randomly prompted by the mobile app (PIEL Survey) to complete a questionnaire four times a day during individually chosen 60-minute time blocks and then had up to 15 min to respond to the questionnaire. At each measurement time point, they answered questions about their most recent aesthetic experience since the previous measurement time point. They answered the question “Have you had an aesthetic experience since the last measurement time point?” on a binary scale. To capture the intensity of the aesthetic experience, ten items from the Aesthetic Emotions Scale (AESTHEMOS; Schindler et al., 2017) were presented. The items were answered on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). A short scale was used to measure mood (Wilhelm & Schoebi, 2007). At each survey time point, participants answered the statement “At this moment I feel:” using six bipolar items on a seven-point scale ranging from 0 (e.g. very tired) to 6 (e.g. very awake).

Data Collection Method:

Data collection in the absence of an experimenter

• Postal Survey
• Online Survey

Other method, namely:

• Experience sampling method

Population:

97 participants (87 students and 10 members of other professions)

Survey Time Period:

Sample:

Convenience sample

Gender Distribution:

41% female participants
59% male participants

Age Distribution: 15-55 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

The students were made aware of the study via an e-mail distribution list. As compensation, they received subject hours, which they could have credited to their studies.
The other participants were contacted personally by Jan Prüßing-Peters, the person responsible for data collection. In order to increase the data response, Mr Prüßing-Peters was in regular telephone contact with the participants.

Sample Size:

97 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

Six additional participants (VP 41, 80, 91, 96, 102 and 106) were unable to participate in the ESM study due to technical problems. One additional participant (VP 47) was excluded due to knowledge of the hypotheses. Two additional data sets were destroyed during dispatch (VP 99 and 120). VP numbers 1, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 15-25 were not assigned.