I see a constant barrage of studies of happiness. I have good evidence that it is meaningless drivel.
Back
in the late 1960's when I was deeply involved in West Coast survey
research, Bell Labs conducted a study of families in the S.F. Bay Area
and six chosen locations around the U.S.
In a very well designed methodology, families were given unlimited free phone calls to family members in other cities in the study. The object was to see how important maintaining active family connections were. The study was conclusive at a high level of statistical significance: families were much happier after they were given this service and used it extensively. Much happier.
Now, with cellular plans, nearly everybody in America has free calling to their families 24 hours a day.
I don't see any measures of increased happiness. Do you? So happiness measurements on a large or broad scale are probably drivel.
