Inglehart measure of happiness
In a recent analysis concluded, Ronald Inglehart has conducted a survey which aimed to measure the overall happiness. He found that Denmark, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Sweden were the top 10 happiest countries in the world. What is briefly reported in the media is the method used. Inglehart has constructed an index based on two issues, which should reflect the happiness and life satisfaction: 1) "All things considered, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not happy at all? "2)" All in all, are you happy with your life as a whole these days? "This is not the first time Inglehart attempted to answer the big questions by asking a few questions. It is both well known and much criticized for that, but that research is time consuming and expensive, it would be difficult to ask more questions than what has been done in this study. However, it should be more widely discussed that this study actually says, and if you visit Denmark think they should be happier than you. The study obviously depends heavily on personal interpretation, but cultural differences and social expectations may also play a role. The interpretation of questions may vary from person to person, both within countries and across borders. What does "very happy" mean, and how do I determine if I am very happy or somewhat happy? I was probably too unhappy, but I was not very happy, or not at all happy? And how can I make all things together, especially with someone on the phone asking me to do - and fast. I get confused when you try to make sense now, but within a short time, Inglehart expects me to summarize everything in my life and see if all goes well, then I need to decide which of these I ' I really am.But if he called me and asked me, I answer, and I will answer quickly. And that would be everyone - without thinking about all that much. But while this issue is a question, it is easier to give an answer, it is not obvious that the answer is correct. And it's even more difficult when cultural differences are taken into count. How can we interpret in Zimbabwe "very happy", and is it the same interpretation that would give someone in Denmark? And there are people in Zimbabwe used to be asked if they are very happy or somewhat happy? Does that make sense for people who might not be so used to the polls and those in the western world? Even among the countries considered are similar, there may be differences. I think people in Denmark, Ireland and Northern Ireland are broadly similar. They are all hot and may be more likely to say they are very happy that people in other countries. Finland, on the other hand, is very different. People are honest, but they could also be more moderate. And moderation may also be higher in Sweden and Norway, which are traditional social democratic countries where moderation is considered a virtue. Could the population of these countries are more likely to say they are quite happy? Social expectations may also make more positive responses than they are. Of course, the researcher can note that the responses are anonymous and there are also other things that can be done to make the study more reliable, but a researcher can never remove all doubt. It could be that the reason the democratic countries top the list not because people are happy, but rather that people are happy to say the researcher, because they feel they should be happy. If you have a great job, enough money, friends, why did you not be happy? It should also be noted that Inglehart would have expected this, because it claims there is a close link between democracy and happiness. This conclusion is obviously based on the study, but could it be that the study is designed so that democratic countries will end up on top? I do not know, but what I know is I'm going to visit Denmark soon. Maybe I should ask them if they are very happy or somewhat happy?
http://graphicshunt.com










