Short Wave The Science Of Happiness Sounds Great. But Is The Research Solid?
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Aug 9, 2023 Elizabeth Dunn, a leading researcher in happiness science at the University of British Columbia, discusses the science behind our quest for happiness. She reveals that many popular strategies, such as mindfulness and exercise, may lack solid research backing. Dunn emphasizes the need for rigorous evaluation of these methods, highlighting effective tactics like gratitude and social connections. She also reflects on the evolving approaches in happiness research, urging listeners to critically assess what truly contributes to their well-being.
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Replication Crisis in Psychology
- Psychology faced a replication crisis, revealing that many studies were not replicable.
- This was due to small sample sizes and flawed methodologies, leading to false positives.
Pre-Register Research
- Pre-register research intentions publicly before starting experiments.
- This prevents data manipulation and promotes honest, transparent results.
Gold Standard for Happiness Research
- Randomized controlled experiments are the best way to validate happiness strategies.
- Elizabeth Dunn's team used this standard to evaluate five common strategies.