Instructions: We all crave the good life. We all want to be happy. At the same time
many of us expend a great deal of time and energy chasing happiness with less than
satisfactory results. This assignment requires you to research, design, apply, and
critically evaluate an evidence-based experiential program designed to increase
happiness. 1) Begin by reading Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and the “Foreword to Part Two” (pp
27-87) in the Lyubomirsky (2007) book “The How of Happiness”
• Pay particular attention to the sections relevant to this assignment(you
might have to go back and reread them as you start planning for this
project).
• Please also review the references for the above sections of the book “the
notes” (pp. 316 – 324) and identify journal articles that may be relevant
for this project (these will be super useful in the “literature review
sections” of the final paper).
2) Complete the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Person-Activity Fit
Diagnostic (or if you have already completed these – gather your results on them).
3) Follow the steps outlined below
4) Do research into the program being undertaken, the measures used, and on the
specific activities you ended up with after completing the Person-Activity Fit
Diagnostic
• You should do the research into the activities before you start the
experiential part of this project (the other parts can come later as youstart
to compose paper)
5) Write your essay covering all steps following directions and covering all
steps
6) Submit your paper to me online using link online (not emailed) by deadline
You are expected to do the following in preparation for this essay:
◻ Review the corresponding chapters and sections of the Lyubomirsky book
◻ Identify, collect, and review relevant journal articles mentioned in the
Lyubomirsky book (to help you complete activities and for the literature
review)
◻ Identify, collect, and review relevant 4 – 6 additional journal articles – not
mentioned in the Lyubomirsky book (ideally newer ones published following
the 2007 publication of the book). Make sure to use these in literature
review, include these original items in the reference list and the additional
appendix mentioned above.
◻ Engage in 4 weeks of happiness increasing activities.
• Each week must include all three activities – and, as applicable,
each type of broad activity must be engaged in at least twice each
week. (although you may do different aspects of the activity)
• So, for example, if you have “learning to forgive” “taking care of
your body” and “practicing spirituality” as your activities – each
week you should be doing AT LEAST 2 activities related to each of
the 3 broad activity categories.
• The Lyubomirsky book has suggestions for activities. You are free
to find more in journal articles and – as warranted – to be creative in
finding / creating activities
◻ Execute your program over 4 weeks and collect data / keep process notes.
◻ Write the paper as you go
◻ After completing the activities – retake the Oxford measure and compare
test and retest results.
◻ Evaluate your program by indicating what went well, what was
challenging, and what, in retrospect, you would change if you were torun
the program over again.