What Kind of Event, If Any, Can Alter Happiness for a Period

question 217

Multiple Choice

What kind of event, if any, can alter happiness for a period of many years?

• A) A better job and higher salary lead to a long-lasting increase in happiness.
• B) Loss of a job or a spouse leads to a long-lasting decrease in happiness.
• C) Moving to a different part of the country can produce either a long-term increase or decrease in happiness.
• D) No known events alter reported happiness for more than a few months.

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Definitions:

Causal Relationship

A connection between two events or states where one event is understood to be a direct result of the other.

Confounding Variable

An external variable that influences both the dependent and independent variables in a study, potentially skewing the results.

Observational Study

A study in which the researcher observes and records behavior or outcomes without manipulating variables.

Traditional Experiment

A research methodology involving the manipulation of variables to determine their effect on a particular outcome, usually featuring a control and experimental group.