Measuring the Pursuit of Happiness
True Happiness Isn't a Number, but Can Be Measured
Monitor your pursuit of happiness with these self-assessment tests.
We devote ourselves to the pursuit of happiness. Even though happiness is difficult to define, everyone knows what it is. We know when we're happy and when we're unhappy. We are also pretty sure when someone we know is happy or not happy. Happiness is one of those human states of being that literally needs no definition and no description to clarify our understanding; we're either happy or not.
Measuring Happiness
It's unrealistic to expect to be happy all of the time. As well, it's not realistic to expect to always be joyously happy when we are happy. There are gradations of happiness, but how do we measure them?
Researcher Studies of Happiness
Positive psychology researchers study happiness, and their results are of interest and value to anyone seeking to be happier.
You can take these same happiness self assessments yourself at no cost by visiting a central repository of happiness studies at the University of Pennsylvania. This is the home of Dr. Martin Seligman's Positive psychology research. Dr. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness, is a leader of the Positive Psychology movement, and a former president of the American Psychological Association.
Benchmark Your Happiness
It can be illuminating to take happiness self assessments at various times over a period of months or years. One can see progress or lack of it. Comparing results to averages of a large population can help to put your state of happiness in perspective.
The University of Pennsylvania happiness research site does require that you register with a name, email address, age, gender, occupation, and zip code. This information is used for comparison purposes in research and for your personal reports over time. The site's privacy statement assures that all data is used anonymously for research purposes.
The site does not verify that the name and email given are valid, so those uncomfortable sharing personal information can conceivably get all the benefits by creating a false persona. Users are urged to provide valid information to protect the integrity of research findings.
A Happiness History
Once registered, you can return as many times as you like and re-take any of the assessments, which they call questionnaires. The site maintains a test center for each registered user, showing a history of your scores. It can be useful to see the progress you make as you integrate various happiness improving interventions.
Happiness Self Assessments
Each of these assessments provides immediate results upon completion, showing not only your score, but also a charted comparison to all users.
- Authentic Happiness Inventory Questionnaire - This assessment measures overall happiness based on responses to 24 questions. One's overall happiness score is shown on a scale of one to five, along with a chart displaying how that score compares to others who have taken the assessment. Comparisons are relative to all users, age group, gender, occupation, and zip code or country.
- Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire - This assessment measures current happiness on a scale from one to ten, and requires responding to only four questions.
- General Happiness Questionnaire - This questionnaire assesses enduring happiness with four questions and reports results on a scale from one to seven.
- Approaches to Happiness Questionnaire - This measures Three Routes to Happiness from responses to 18 questions. The three routes involve knowing your strengths, using your strengths, and finding meaning in life.
Quantifying Happiness
Happiness scores aren't a competition, but are a useful tool for monitoring personal development and inspiring continuing growth.
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