myers and diener - RAVES

• R

  high external reliability

  lit review of existing studies (1985-91) > therefore possible to repeat to check for consistent results into factors influencing happiness
• A

  Schinka et al - genes linked to happiness

  5-HTT = controls serotonin levels in brain > people who have variant of this have an increase in serotonin > report higher life satisfaction

  suggest f+c don't fully explain happiness > fail to address biological factors that influence wellbeing
• A

  Frank (2004)

  concluded - increase in income to purchase ordinary goods (e.g. ones that reduce travel to work) can increase SWB

  support f that money can increase happiness when it meets a person's basic needs
• V

  large sample and cross-cultural

  e.g. Inglehart's research involved surveying 170,000 from 16 different countries

  population / external validity > findings generalisable to factors that affect happiness in target population
• V

  issues with sample

  critics = culturally biased > majority of studies= western countries > over-representation of individualist cultures where individual's happiness = important

  difficult to generalise findings to explain happiness in collectivist cultures

  EXT - questions about SWB carry culture bias as SWB = more relevant to individualist cultures > collectivist cultures may be as happy but don't express it as personal SWB
• V

  correlational > cause and effect issues

  most research = correlational > not possible to say one factor directly affects happiness > could be other intervening variable causing happiness

  low internal validity of findings
• E

  lit review = ethical way of conducting research

  review existing studies > therefore no participant manipulation and no chance of long lasting psychological harm for anyone involved
• E+S

  research considered = socially sensitive

  e.g. individualist cultures = greater SWB than collectivist cultures and those who are married = happier than never married

  research creates negative stereotypes of certain cultures and single people being less happy > lead - discrimination

  questions raised regarding negative ethical and social implications of study
• S

  good for workplace

  f - used to help employers and employees increase flow > contribute to wellbeing

  benefit individual, employer and economy due to a more productive workforce and fewer absences due to disengagement / mental health
• S

  bad for workplace - f may have negative implications

  f - money only affects happiness when it's needed to meet basic needs > beyond that > wealth not related to happiness > could be misused by employers to justify paying minimum wage

  individual may choose jobs that provide enough money to meet basic needs > workplaces struggle to fill higher paid jobs > damage employers and employees
• S

  benefits to health sector

  mental health disorders = on the rise each year > study has useful insights into factors that increase wellbeing (relationships and job satisfaction)

  info used to educate individuals on how to increase wellbeing > may act as buffer against mental illness