University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0859
Survey Title International Comparative Research on Sense of Happiness, 2009-2011
Depositor Kyoto University Global COE Program, Revitalizing Education for Dynamic Hearts and Minds (Leader: Masuo Koyasu)
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Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
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Summary This survey was conducted as international comparative research on the sense of happiness, which is the central issue of the projects of the Kyoto University Global COE Program “Revitalizing Education for Dynamic Hearts and Minds” (center no. D-07), which has carried out educational and research activities in the five years from 2007 to 2011, with the aim of establishing centers for the development of capable, internationally active human resources, amid organic collaborations between Kyoto University psychology and pedagogy researchers.

The state of “happiness” can be broadly divided into objectively quantifiable “welfare” or “well-being” and subjectively experienced “subjective well-being” or “sense of happiness,” and attempts have been made to construct measurable indicators for each. This survey aims to reexamine indicators for subjective well-being among them and compose a measuring tool, and then use the tool to acquire data from 13 countries for a cross-national comparison of subjective well-being.

The survey samples are 13 countries (Japan, South Korea, China, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Canada, United States of America, Mexico, and Brazil), and questionnaires in the 7 languages used in these countries (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English (South Africa/Australia/New Zealand/United Kingdom/Canada/United States of America), German, Spanish (Spain/Mexico), and Portuguese (Brazil)) were used to conduct an online survey.
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Men and women in any of the age groups 18–25, 40–49, or 60 and over in the 13 survey sample countries
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size
Responses
Total 8122
Japan 1221
South Korea 613
China 641
South Africa 474
Australia 626
New Zealand 582
UK 552
Germany 550
Spain 546
Canada 614
USA 542
Mexico 549
Brazil 612
Date of Collection 2009-10 ~ 2009-10
October 2009: Japan
March 2010: New Zealand, UK, Germany, Spain, Mexico
March 2011: Korea, China, South Africa, Australia, Canada, USA, Brazil
Time Period 2009 ~ 2011
Spatial Unit China
South Africa
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
United States of America
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Germany
Spain
Mexico
Brazil
13 Countries: Japan, Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China, Republic of South Africa, Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany, Spain, United Mexican States, Federative Republic of Brazil
Sampling Procedure Monitors registered with Cross Marketing Inc. and its international partner companies were sampled by designating conditions (nationality, gender, age range). The specific designated conditions that were set were equal numbers of men and women in three age groups (18–25, 40–49, 60 and over)
Mode of Data Collection Internet survey
Investigator Kyoto University Global COE Program, Revitalizing Education for Dynamic Hearts and Minds (Leader: Masuo Koyasu), survey carried out by Cross Marketing Inc. and its international partner companies
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0859
Sponsors (Funds) 2007–2011 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Global COE Program Grant for Research Center Establishment Costs (Kyoto University, center no. D-07)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) A Cross-national Study on Happiness, March 2012, Koyasu Masuo (leader, Global COE Program)
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Questionnaire]
Major Survey Items (1) Face items (demographic variables): nationality, age, highest level of educational attainment, years of education, parents’ highest level of educational attainment, marital status, number of children, type of residence, religion

(2) Existing scales relating to sense of happiness: Diener et al.’s 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale, 9-item ordinary happiness scale, 10-item self-esteem scale

(3) New scale items for happiness (5 items on sense of competency, 9 items on sense of vitality, 4 items on sense of achievement)

(4) New scale items relating to happiness (9 items on metacognition, 6 items on education and happiness)

(5) Other scales: regret, maximizer, locomotion-assessment, NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute’ life goals scale, etc.

(6) Sentence-completion test (3 items)

*For details of survey items, please refer to the questionnaire.
Date of Release 2013/06/26
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Social behaviour and attitudes
Topics in SSJDA Society/Culture
Version 1 : 2013-06-26
Notes for Users - Open-ended data (other contents, sentence-completion test) are not publicly available.