Part V: creating the EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 2.0

UK and Ireland Norms

What is a General Population Norm?

This General Population Norm includes 1,450 individuals, and is used to compare your client’s score to the general UK and Ireland population, and is representative of the age, gender, ethnicity, and education compositions of UK and Ireland. (See Standardisation under EQ-i 2.0 UK and Ireland General Population Norm for more information on the sample characteristics.) In essence, using the General Population Norm to compare your client’s score to the average person's score on the EQ-i 2.0 is the broadest comparison you can make. Such comparisons help you answer the following question: “How does my score compare to typical people in the UK and Ireland?” This norm would include both working and non-working individuals, people with high and low education levels, etc.

Within the UK and Ireland General Population Norm, there is both an Overall General Population Norm and Age and Gender Specific norm groups. Age and Gender Specific norm groups allow you to compare your client to a UK and Ireland norm group within your client’s gender and age range. If you use the Overall norm, the normative comparison will not be affected by the individual’s age or gender (for example, a 43-year-old female will be compared to all individuals in the UK and Ireland General Population Norm sample regardless of their age or gender). If you use the Age and Gender Specific norm, then the comparison will be made only to individuals of the same gender and age group (for example, a 43 year-old female will only be compared to females who are 40–49 years of age).

There are sound reasons for using either of these options, and the choice ultimately belongs with the preference of each consultant. Some consultants prefer not to use the age and gender specific norms so that everyone can be scored against the same norm values (Overall General Population of UK and Ireland). On the other hand, other consultants like the specificity of comparing individuals directly to those that are most similar in age and gender (Age and Gender Specific General Population of UK and Ireland).