Lesson: Happiness measurement

Videos: Week 1 Videos 2 4

Week 1 Video 2: Happiness is a balloon!

Books/Articles:
1. Self-reports of happiness are quite reliable:

a. Diener, E., Inglehart, R., & Tay, L. (2013). Theory and validity of life satisfaction scales.
Social Indicators Research, 112(3), 497-527. An online version of this article can be
accessed at: http://stat.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/Documents/Diener-Inglehart-
Tay_Validity%20of%20ls%20measures.pdf

b. For intrapersonal reliability of subjective well-being scales, see Krueger, A. B., &
Schkade, D. A. (2008). The reliability of subjective well-being measures. Journal of public
economics, 92(8), 1833-1845. An online version of this paper can be accessed at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597879/

2. On the subjective well-being (or satisfaction with life) scale:

a. This scale was originally published in the Journal of Personality Assessment. Diener, E.
D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale.
Journal of personality assessment, 49(1), 71-75. An online version of this paper can be
accessed at: http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~ediener/Documents/Diener-
Emmons-Larsen-Griffin_1985.pdf

Week 1 Video 3: What you can expect and what it will take

Books/Articles:
1. On the idea that, to enhance happiness levels, it will take diligence:
a. Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life
you want. Penguin.
2. On the idea that it takes being open to new ideas to change old (and
unproductive habits):
a. Markman, A. (2014). Smart Change: Five Tools to Create New and Sustainable Habits in
Yourself and Others. Penguin.

Week 1 Video 4: Measuring Happiness

1. Self-reports of happiness are quite reliable:

a. Diener, E., Inglehart, R., & Tay, L. (2013). Theory and validity of life satisfaction scales.
Social Indicators Research, 112(3), 497-527. An online version of this article can be
accessed at: http://stat.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/Documents/Diener-Inglehart-
Tay_Validity%20of%20ls%20measures.pdf

b. For intrapersonal reliability of subjective well-being scales, see Krueger, A. B., &
Schkade, D. A. (2008). The reliability of subjective well-being measures. Journal of public
economics, 92(8), 1833-1845. An online version of this paper can be accessed at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597879/

2. On the subjective well-being (or satisfaction with life) scale:

a. This scale was originally published in the Journal of Personality Assessment. Diener, E.
D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale.
Journal of personality assessment, 49(1), 71-75. An online version of this paper can be
accessed at: http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~ediener/Documents/Diener-Emmons-
Larsen-Griffin_1985.pdf

Other Resources:

b. Johnston, P. (2010). How can we measure happiness? Retrieved from

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/8136139/How-can-
we-measure-happiness.html