Positive Classic Research - Who Is Happy? Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are the evaluation points if the Method and procedure of myers and dieners research?
❌the literature reviewed was correlational
❌issues with the sample
✅literature reviews are reliable
✅literature review involved a large sample of participants
Why was the fact that most of the literature reviewed being correlational a weakness of the method and procedure in myers and dieners research?
Issues with cause and effect because of the correlations meaning it is not possible to say one factor effects happiness for example marriage, it could be other contributing factors such as children or shared income. Lowers internal validity
Why are there issues with the sample in myers and dieners research?
The sample is culturally biased as there are more western countries which is an over representation of individualist cultures where happiness is of individual importance. It may be difficult to generalise to collectivist cultures to explain happiness.
Why are literature reviews being reliable a strength of the methodology in myers and dieners research?
A literature review of existing studies carried out from 1985-1991 so can easily be repeated to check for consistency into the factors influencing happiness meaning that it is Hugh external reliability
Why was the literature review involving a large sample of participants a strength of the methodology in myers and dieners research?
Large samples and cross cultural, inglehart - 170,000 across 16 countries. Good population/external validity, findings can be generalised to factors affecting happiness in target population
What are the evaluation points if the findings and conclusions in myers and dieners research?
❌the literature reviewed is correlational
✅population validity
✅high reliability
❌low population validity
❌alternative evidence to contradict
✅alternative evidence to support
Why is it a weakness that the literature reviewed is correlational in myers and dieners research?
Not possible to say one factor for example marriage affects happiness as there could be intervening variables affecting happiness such as children or a shared income. Lowers internal validity of their findings that factors such as relationships lead to happiness
Why is population validity a strength if the findings and conclusions in myers and dieners research?
Large sample, cross cultural, inglehart 170,000 in 16 countries, good population/external validity as findings for factors affecting happiness can be generalised to target population.
Why is high reliability a strength of the findings and conclusions of myers and dieners research?
Involved literature reviews of existing research dine between 1985-1991 so can be repeated to check for consistency in factors influencing happiness.
Why is low population validity a weakness of the finding and conclusions in myers and dieners research?
Critics argue sample is culturally biased because the majority of studies in lit review are from western countries meaning an over representation of individualist cultures where indivisible happiness is important. Hard to generalise to collectivist culture. Also swb questions have more bias as more relevant to individualist cultures. Collectivist may be equally happy but don’t express as personal sbw
What alternate evidence is there to contradict myers and dieners research?
Schinka et al found a gene linked to happiness, 5+HTT controls levels of serotonin in brain, people who have this variant of gene have increased serotonin and report increased life satisfaction. Suggests myers and dieners conclusions do not explain happiness as they don’t address biological factors which influence wellbeing
What alternative evidence is there to support myers and dieners?
Myers and dieners found relationships are linked to happiness and people who can name several friends are happier and healthier than those who have none or few friends. This is further supported by dieners and seligman(2002) students who made free will choice to invest time in relationship with family and friends were happier. Highlights forming strong connections to family and friends relates to increased happiness and reduced low mood
What are the ethical and social implications of myers and dieners research?
✅ literature reviews are ethical ways of conducting research
❌ negative stereotypes
✅ workplace
✅ health sector
Why are literature reviews an ethical way of conducting research in myers and dieners research?
Few ethical issues as it the literature reviewed were existing studies so there wasn’t any manipulation of participants so no chance of any long lasting psychological harm to any of the participants involved in the literature reviewed.
Why is an ethical/social implication of myers and dieners research that it is socially sensitive?
Individualist cultures reported higher swb than collectivist cultures married people were found to be happier then people who have never married. There could be negative stereotypes towards certain cultures and single people being less happy which could lead to discrimination. Questions raised regarding the negative ethical and social implications
What is the social implication in the workplace for myers and dieners research?
Used in thr workplace to increase flow which would contribute to employee wellbeing and the economy as they are a more productive workplace and fewer absences from work due to disengagement and mental health
What is the social implication in the health sector of myers and dieners research?
Educate individuals on how to increase wellbeing which can be used as a buffer against mental illness. As mental disorders are in the rise every year it offers useful insight into what increases wellbeing such as job satisfaction and investing time into relationships
