Chart 9
Participant Satisfaction: Total Group and by Gender

Quality of Life Inventory

To this point the data that ha ve been analyzed are rather subjective. For example, the satisfaction scores cited above clearly indicate at least average and in most cases well above average levels of satisfaction. However, there is no normative ABE population with which to compare their data. Therefore, the QOLI, a standardized life satisfaction instrument was administered to participants. QOLI raw scores are obtained by rating two aspects of the following areas: health, self-esteem, goals and values, money, work, play, learning, creativity, helping, love, friends, children, relatives, home, neighborhood, and community.

On a scale of 0 (not important) to 2 (extremely important), partic ipants rated each of these 16 areas in terms of its importance to their overall happiness. Then, on a scale of -3 (most dissatisfied) to +3 (very satisfied) they indicated their satisfaction level or how well their needs, goals and wishes were met in each area. Areas are scored by multiplying the importance rating by the satisfaction rating yielding scores ranging from –6 to +6.