WORLD DATABASE OF HAPPINESS

Ruut Veenhoven, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Social Indicators, 1995, vol 34, pp 299-313

ABSTRACT
The World Database of Happiness is an ongoing register of research on subjective appreciation of life. Its purpose is to make the wealth of scattered findings accessible, and to create a basis for further meta-analytic studies. The database involves four sections:

  1. Bibliography of Happiness. Presents all contemporary scientific publications. Detailed subject classification. Current content: 2472 titles, mainly in English

  2. Catalogue of Happiness Correlates. Presents mini-abstracts of correlational research findings. Restricts to selected indicators of happiness. Detailed subject classification. Current content: 6098 findings from 512 studies in 45 nations between 1911-1993
  3. Catalogue of Happiness in Nations. Presents responses on selected survey questions in nation samples. Current content: 689 surveys in 56 nations 1946-1993.

  4. Directory of Investigators. Addresses of most authors on the subject.

The World Database of Happiness is available in books and on computer files. Computer files are free available through Internet on the anonymous ftp-server of Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands. Ftp-address: ftp.eur.nl/pub/database.happiness (since 1998http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl) .

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