In the UK, Smith (undated) and Bowling (2000) measure quality of life by asking a series of unprompted open ended questions. Smith asked 1,650 persons aged 65 and over “what would you say makes life really pleasant and satisfying for people of your age?”, followed by “would you say you have these things to a great extent, to a certain extent, hardly at all or not at all?” (pg.12). Each person’s responses were then transcribed verbatim and/or coded (findings are presented later). Bowling (2000), under the remit of the ESRC’s Growing Older Programme, has developed a similar measure to Smith’s, asking people the following question: “Thinking about your life as a whole, what is it that makes your life good – that is, the things that give your life quality?” The survey also asks questions on how the individual feels in comparison with their expectations, what they had in the past and how they feel in relation to others.5