ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the importance of using qualitative techniques when researching happiness. It provides background on happiness research and specifically outlines the hedonic and eudaimonic approaches to investigating happiness. The hedonic approach is broadly focused on pleasure and enjoyment and the eudaimonic on developing one’s full potential. Differences and similarities between the two approaches are discussed, as well as the common use of quantitative measures. The chapter then goes on to discuss whether current measures in happiness can account for subtle individual differences that can be important in understanding human happiness and well-being. It ends with a discussion about the importance of more frequently including qualitative research methods into happiness research in order to provide more nuance about what it is that makes people happy.
