The index was constructed according to respondents' answers to the following questions:

1. Is there discrimination against certain groups in Israeli society? If so, which groups are discriminated against. If respondent mentions his ethnic category (Ashkenazim or edot ha'Mizmch) or his edah, the answer is coded “1,” otherwise, “0.”

2. Have Ashkenazim got their proper share, less than their proper share, or more than their proper share in (a) economic area, (b) social esteem, (c) political power? For each of the three areas, Polish and Rumanian respondents who answered less than the proper share were coded “1”: otherwise, “0.”

3. Have edot ha'Mizrach got their proper share, less than their proper share, or more than their proper share in (a) economic area, (b) social esteem, (c) political power? For each of the three areas, Moroccan and Iraqi respondents who answered less than the proper share were coded “1”: otherwise, “0.”

4. Has your particular edah got its proper share, less than its proper share, or more than its proper share in (a) economic area, (b) social esteem, (c) political power? Answers coded as described in 2 and 3.

The index is the simple sum of the answers. Its range is from “0” (no felt deprivation) to “8” (highest level of felt deprivation).