Erasmus University Rotterdam, Social Sciences,
Department of Sociology
HAPPINESS RESEARCH PROGRAM 2010
2) WORLD DATABASE OF HAPPINESS
3) HAPPINESS AND PUBLIC CHOICE
| Description | Conceptual analysis |
| Output 2009 | Publication 'Well-being in nations and well-being of nations: Is there a conflict between individual and society?'(Social Indicators Research) |
| Planning 2010 | Publication 'Capabilities and happiness' Publication updated "The four qualities of Life |
| People | Veenhoven |
| Description | Techniques for measuring subjective enjoyment of life |
| Output 2009 | First analysis of data gathered with DRM application 'Yesterday's Diary' in HOVO-effect study. |
| Improvement of Yesterday's Diary for application in 'GeluksWijzer' project | |
| Continuation of International Happiness Scale Interval Study | |
| Planning 2010 | Dissertation Kalmijn First analysis of data GeluksWijzer project Publication paper 'Measures of Gross national happiness' in Spanish |
| People | Kalmijn, Oerlemans, Tadic, Veenhoven |
International Happines-scale Interval Study
| Description | Improving the comparability of responses to differently worded questions in different languages using Thurstone transformation technique. Students in different countries rate the happiness intensity of response options to commonly used questions on happiness. The resulting weights are entered in the item bank and will allow automatic computation of transformed scores |
| Output 2009 | Paper on research design published (Veenhoven) |
| Planning 2010 | More studies in English (2), German (1). French (2), Icelandic, Farsi (Iran) Italian, Norvegian, Polish (1), Spanish, Turkish (1) |
| People | Hermus (RISBO), Kalmijn, Mulder, Veenhoven |
| Description | Synthesis of research findings on happiness, using data available in the World Database of Happiness, collection of Correlational Findings |
| Output 2009 | Exploratory analysis of available data on happiness and education |
| Planning 2010 | Analysis of availabale data on income, employment and age by psychology students (Wetsteijn) |
| People | VandeVooren, Veenhoven, Wetsteijn |
| Description | Review of theories about happiness: mental process, functions, determinants and consequences. Assesment of fit with the available data |
| Output 2009 | Publication papers Veenhoven |
| Concept paper 'Cognition and Affect in appraisal of overall happiness' (Veenhoven with Rojas) | |
| Planning 2010 | Publication paper 'How universal is happiness?' Publication paper 'Cognition and Affect' Revision of paper: 'Sociology's Blind Eye for happiness' |
| People | Veenhoven |
| Description | Review studies |
| Output 2009 |
|
| Book review by Ott | |
| Planning 2010 | Start Handbook of Happiness (Veenhoven editor) |
| People | Ott, Veenhoven |
Since
its start in 1999, the database attracted 608.760 visitors by 1-9-2009.
The estimated number of visits in 2009 is 80.000, which is about the same as in 2008. Hits in Google Scholar: 878 (Advanced search on full name)
The
Database involves the following collections:
| Description | Publications on happiness in the sense of subjective enjoyment of life Involves detailed subject classification. Contains currently 5814 publications. Linked to the Directory of Investigators Also linked to the collection of Correlational Findings |
| Output 2009 | 352 new publications entered Links to full texts added, mostly using DOI Links to excerpts of correlational findings added Re-coding of subject classification Addition of key-words |
| Planning 2010 | Entering about 250 new publications |
| People | Boelhouwer, Blok, Chekola, DenBuitelaar, Mulder, Radema, Veenhoven, Zuidgeest |
Measures of
happiness (Item bank)
| Description | Collection of acceptable measures of happiness Mainly survey questions. Classified by conceptual focus, timeframe, method of assessment and rating scale. Links to studies that used these measures. Contains currently 1140 measures that passed a test for face-validity, of which 554 in other languages than English |
| Output 2009 | 79 new items entered 47 texts in original languages entred |
| Planning 2010 | Entering about 50 new items Revision of "Thurstone weights" used for transformation means to range 0-10 (weights assessed in the International Happiness Scale Interval Study) |
| People | Kalmijn, Mulder, Veenhoven |
| Description | Collection of research findings on happiness in nations| Presents responses on acceptable questions on happiness in surveys of the general population in nations.The collection can be searched on type of measure, time and nation Contains currently 4242 findings from 134 nations 1942-2009 |
| Output 2009 | 375 new findings entered Update of 8 finding reports on website |
| Planning 2010 | Entering about 200 new findings |
| People | Elia, Veenhoven, Wartena |
| Description | Collection of correlational findings on happiness Research findings are presented in mini-abstracts using standardized terminilogy. Abstracts can be searched on subject, happiness measure, time, nation and public. Contains now 11.251 findings from 1319 studies |
| Output 2009 | Entered 137 new studies involving 685 findings Finding reports in Bibliogrpahy |
| Planning 2010 | Entering about 100 more studies |
| People | Blokzijl, DenBuitelaar, Elia, Huijsmans, Kalmijn, Mieras, Ott, Radema, VandeVooren-Koopman, VanderPoel, VanHecke, Veenhoven, Wartena, Zijlmans |
| Description | SPSS data file of nation variables Involves data on happiness in nations derived from the above collections and further characteristics of nations taken from international statistics and surveys. Meant to facilitate cross-national research on happiness. The data file is free available on request. Contains currently 136 nations |
| Output 2009 | 30 new nations added, mainly from Gallup World Poll |
| Planning 2010 | Entering data on values in nations taken from World Values Survey wave 5 |
| People | Elia, Veenhoven, Wartena, Wildschut |
| Description | SPSS data file of trend data in nations Distribution of happiness in nations by year and time-series of background variables drawn from international statistics. Intended to facilitate analysis of trends of happiness in nations. The data file is free available on request. Contains currently time series of 30 years and more in 12 nations |
| Output 2009 | Update to 2008 |
| Planning 2010 | Update to 2009 |
| People | Veenhoven, Wartena |
| Description | Improvement of database system and website |
| Output 2009 | Cleaning-up of Access databases Improvements of website Improvement of searcheability |
| Planning 2010 | Redesign of the datasystem (in cooperation with University Library) |
| People | Radema, Veenhoven |
Directory of investigators on happiness
| Description | Names of investigators on happiness Part of the Bibliography of Happiness and links to publications. Contains currently 8961 names and about 4000 recent addresses. Available on request for scientific purposes. |
| Output 2009 | 283 new names and adresses entered |
| Planning 2010 | Entering about 250 new names Promotion mailing to all authors |
| People | Boelhouwer, Blok, DenBuitelaar |
What policies will create the greatest happiness for the greatest number?
The goal of this
sub-program is to generate evidence-based knowledge for policy makers who aim at
maximizing the level of happiness, while minimizing the difference in happiness among
citizens.
| Question | How can we create greater happiness for a greater number? Feasibility of rule-utilitarianism |
| Output 2009 | Papers by Berg |
| Bachelor thesis Julia Propp (Humbold University Berlin) 'Happiness and Welfare State' | |
| Master thesis Zijlmans (Utrecht University) 'Work involvement in the valuation of unemployment | |
| Papers by Veenhoven - Greater happiness for a greater number: Is that possible and desirable? (published in Ethiek en Maatschappij) - various shorter versions |
|
| Papers Ott - 'Happiness and Government effectiveness' accepted for publication in Journal of Happiness Studies - 'Geluk en Politiek' gepubliceerd in Ethiek en Maatschappij - Concept paper 'Ethics of happiness' for special issue on utilitarianism Journal of Happiness Studies |
|
| Planning 2010 | Dissertation Berg
|
| Paper on the basis of "Propp's thesis | |
| Paper on the basis of Zijlman's thesis | |
| Concept paper 'Happiness and Size of government' Concept dissertation |
|
| People | Berg, Ott, Propp, Veenhoven, Zijlmans |
| Question | Is life getting better or worse? Are we on the right track? |
| Output 2009 | Paper 'Happiness and modernity' (Veenhoven) Concept paper 'Happiness and cultural conflict' (Veenhoven with VanAchteren) Update TrendReports on website |
| Planning 2010 | Paper 'Winners and loosers of post-modernity' (Veenhoven with Boelsums) Publication paper 'Is life getting better?'(update earlier publication Veenhoven) Update TrendReports |
| People | Veenhoven, Wartena |
| Question | What determines dispersion of happiness in nations? |
| Output 2009 | Revision paper 'Income inequality and happiness in nations (mentioned above) |
| Planning 2010 | Paper 'Winners and Loosers of modernization' (basis thesis Boulsums) |
| People | Kalmijn, Ott, Veenhoven |
| Question | Does women's emancipation add to happiness? |
| Output 2009 | Paper 'Happiness of working mothers: a research synthesis' (Blokzijl) Master thesis 'Happiness and women emancipation'(Raaijmakers) |
| Planning 2010 | Revision of paper on gender differences in happiness around the world (Blokzijl) Thesis 'Happiness of women in male jobs' (Kohlen) |
| People | Blokzijl, Kohlen, Raaijmakers, Veenhoven |
| Question | How can health-care add to happiness? How can happiness add to public health? |
| Output 2009 | Start of intervention studies. See 'Trainings for happiness' |
| Planning 2010 | Article 'Mental health care and happiness in nations' (Veenhoven on the basis thesis Touburg) |
| People | Bergsma, Veenhoven |
| Question | Do local conditions affect happiness? If so, how? |
| Output 2009 | none |
| Planning 2010 | Publication 'Happiness in Rotterdam' (Ouweneel) Short research note about city size |
| People | Ouweneel, Veenhoven |
| Question | What kind of home produce most happy life years? |
| Output 2009 | none |
| Planning 2010 | instigating research |
| People | Ott, Veenhoven |
| Question | What education creates the greatest happiness? |
| Output 2009 | Literature review 'Happiness Education' (Emad Samuel) Empirical study 'Happiness in elementary schools' (VanVaalen) |
| Planning 2010 | ? |
| People | Emad Samuel, VandeVooren, VanVaalen |
| Question | What life-styles yield most happiness for what people? Focus on time use |
| Output 2009 | 3rd year data-gathering in HOVO-effect study (VanHerpen) |
| Papers presented at Positive Psychology conference - Happiness and Lifestyle (Veenhoven) - New insights in happiness using DRM (Oerlemans) - Work activities and happiness in elderly (Tadic) |
|
Concept article 'Happy Aging' (Oerlemans, Bakker, Veenhoven) |
|
| Papers on happiness and leisure by Nawijn - 'Happiness and Leisure activity - 'Happiness and mood over the holiday' |
|
| Planning 2010 | Second interim report on DRM follow-up study among senior students |
| Publication papers Nawijn | |
| Publication paper 'Happy Ageing' | |
| Publication paper 'Life-Balance and happiness' (book chapter) | |
| People | Bakker (PSY), Hermus (RISBO), Nawijn, Oerlemans (RISBO), Tadic (guest), VanHerpen (RISBO), Veenhoven |
| Question | What ways of life yield most happiness for what people? Focus on major choices such as having children, emigration and early retirement. |
| Output 2009 | Start of large scale follow-up studies among clients of a health insurance company: 'GeluksWijzer'. Development of internet tools and try-out |
| Planning 2010 | Launch of the study Analysis of first results |
| People | Bakker (PSY), Hermus (RISBO), Oerlemans (RISBO), Veenhoven |
| Description | What is advised in advisory books on happiness? How effective are these recommendations? |
| Output 2009 | Start of effect studies. See above 'Training, Lifestyle and Life-choice |
| Planning 2010 | ? |
| People | Bergsma, Veenhoven |
| Question | Do happiness-training really add to happiness? . |
| Output 2009 | Start of 3 effect studies using internet DRM follow-up over 5 years (financed by ZonMw, coordination Trimbos Institute) - Effect of 'Art-of -Living' game on the happiness of elderly - Effect of lessons on happiness on the happiness of secundary school pupils |
| Planning 2010 | Analysis of baseline data |
| People | Veenhoven |
| Description | What mental disturbances interfere with happiness and which do not? Analysis of NEMIZIS data set |
| Output 2009 | Submission of paper 'Happiness of the disturbed' |
| Planning 2010 | |
| People | Bergsma (in cooperation with DeGraaf Trimbos Institute) |
| Description | Genetic determinants of happiness |
| Output 2009 | Participation in establishment of GeneQOL consortium |
| Planning 2010 | Publication of a review paper (Veenhoven co-author) |
| People | Veenhoven |
| Name | job | status | fte |
| Maarten Berg (drs) | data analysis | AIO | 0,2 |
| Anneke Blok | documentalist | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Cunie Boelhouwer | documentalist | volunteer | 0,2 |
| Carla DenBuitelaar | office management | volunteer | 0,4 |
| Sasqia Blokzijl-ChinHonFoei (drs) | data entry, data analysis | NWO | 0,4 |
| Mark Chekola (emeritus professor) | bibliography, philosophy section | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Armand Elia | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Ineke Huijsmans (drs) | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Wim Kalmijn (ir) | methodology, statistics | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Hans Mieras (ir) | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Joop Mulder | text processing | volunteer | 0,4 |
| Fredrik Radema (ir) | IT, data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Winny Oostmeijer | documentation | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Jan Ott (mr drs) | data analysis | NWO | 0,4 |
| Jan VandeVooren (dr) | data entry | volunteer | 0,2 |
| Janna Vande Vooren-Koopman | data entry | volunteer | 0,2 |
| George VanderPoel (dr MD) | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Treze VanHecke (mr) | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Frank VanderVlugt (ir) | data entry | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Ruut Veenhoven (prof dr) | direction, data analysis | volunteer | 0,8 |
| Paul Wartena (drs) | data entry | volunteer | 0,2 |
| Gerard Wildschut | documentation | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Ems Zuidgeest (MD) | documentation | volunteer | 0,1 |
| Teun Zijlmans | data entry | volunteer | 0,2 |
| TOTAL | 5,4 | ||
| Name | Subject |
Bachelor students |
|
| Loes Clarijn (psychology | Sexual satisfaction and happiness in homo- and hetero sexuals |
| Jamie Olivier (psychology | Effecten van vreemdgaan op geluk |
| Kelly Bergman (psychology) | Kinsey revisited: de relatie tussen seksualiteit en geluk |
| Julia Propp (guest) | Happiness and Welfare State |
Master students |
|
| Maaike Kohlen | Happiness of working mothers |
| Michelle VanVaalen | Happiness in Elementary Schools |
| Ellen Raaijmakers | Happiness and woman emancipation |
| Minoum Bouissaghouane | Happiness and early retirement |
| Teun Zijlmans | Happiness, workinvolvement and unemployment (Utrecht University) |
Ph D students |
|
| Maarten Berg | Happiness and society |
| Ad Bergsma | Happiness advice |
| Wim Kalmijn | Quantification of inequality in happiness |
| Jeroen Nawijn | Happiness and Leisure |
| Jan Ott | Happiness and governance in nations |
| Name | Institute | period |
| Emad Samuel (dr) | Sohag University, Dpt of Education, Egypt | June 2008-March 2009 |
| Mark Chekola (prof, dr) | Dpt. of Philosophy, Minnesota State Univ, USA | October 2008 |
| Maja Tadic (MA) | PhD student, Institute of social sciences, Zagreb, Croatia | October 2008-February 2009 October 2009-February 2010 |
| Julia Propp | Honours student, Dpt of Economics, Humbold University, Berlin, Germany | February-April 2009 |
| Andre van Hoorn (MA) | PhD student, University of Nijmegen | September-October 2009 |
| Deborah Godoy (dr) | Dpt of Psychology, University of Granada, Spain | April-June 2009 |
| Ozge Gokdemir (MA) | PhD student, University of Istanbul, Turkey | July-October 2009 |
| Devrim Dumludag (dr) | Post doc, Dpt of Economics, Bosporus University, Turkey | July-October 2009 |
| Juliane Ebert | Dpt of Psychology, Chemnitz University, Germany | October-December 2009 |
Office and equipment are provided by the department of sociology at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Most of the staff are volunteers, including Veenhoven after his retirement. Additionally the Dutch science foundation (NWO) pays 0,8 scientific staff (Blokzijl, Ott) and the department of sociology pays 0,5 position for a graduate student (Berg).
Donations can be made to a special Support Fund for the World Database of Happiness that is adminstered by Erasmus University's Trustfund. The goal of the fund is to promote the maintenance, updating and scientific use of the collections.
Happiness Research Program 2001 (in Dutch)
Happiness Research Program 2003 (in Dutch)
Happiness Research Program 2004 (in Dutch)
Happiness Research Program 2005 (in Dutch)
Happiness Research Program 2006
Happiness Research Program 2007
Happiness Research Program 2008