title: The measurement of happiness.
abstract: Happiness has been defined either as a broad notion of how one feels about their life in general or as an emotional or affective state. Depending on the way researchers define the concept, there have been variable attempts at measurement. With decades of research, we have a better understanding of how to measure the happiness of others. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods appears to be most productive. If we assume that individuals with disabilities are made happy in the same way as are people without disabilities, then we have a good idea of how to proceed with practical and policy matters.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Inclusion, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Helm
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States