2: Measuring Happiness

This chapter examines the measurement of happiness. Methods are explored from the standpoint of researcher involvement with participants: direct, intermediate or remote. Direct involvement covers biological samples, interviews of participants, focus groups and action research. For intermediate involvement of the researcher, the chapter considers self-report data in questionnaires, The Experience Sampling Method and Day Reconstruction Method. Remote involvement of the researcher looks at technological behavioural observation, digitization of source material and social media. The limitations of happiness research and reflexivity are explored. The chapter finishes by considering research using social media databases.