Self-Control: Measurement, Predictors, Consequences and Policy Implications – Follow-up assessment

Short Description: The 2017 SOEP-IS is the first nationally representative survey to include a validated measure of trait self-control, which is fundamental for understanding human behavior. We propose the inclusion of a follow-up module in the 2020 wave of the SOEP-IS, which establishes – so far unavailable – longitudinal information on self-control.

Methodological Details: The brief Tangney Self-Control Scale was employed. It uses a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much) and uses the introductory sentence: “Using the scale provided, please indicate how much each of the following statements reflects how you typically are.”, followed by 13 items. Examples include “I am good at resisting temptation.” and “I have a hard time breaking bad habits.” Furthermore, participants were asked about the weight they consider ideal for themselves at the time of the next survey and the weight they predict to have at the time of the next survey.

Contact	Syear	Respondents	Dataset	Variables	Availability	Field	Method	Replication
Deborah Cobb-Clark (University of Sydney), Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch (Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf)	2020	1447	inno	isk202, isk105, isk101, isk108, isk107, isk_igew, isk110, isk109, isk111, isk106, isk201, isk102, isk104, isk_egew, isk103, im_isk	4/2023	Economics	Survey items