We’ve looked at the story of the Good Samaritan so now it’s time to scientifically answer the question: is it better to give than to receive? Psychologists have recently examined the relationship between happiness and charitable giving. Will you be happier if you donate money rather than spend it on yourself?
The research study discussed in this episode used a 2×2 factorial design. The image below is actually a "voicethread". This is a new technology which allows you to comment and draw on images and video. Here I explain the factorial design used in this study on the effects of giving on happiness. I can’t make this image any larger here, so use your mouse to zoom in and out as I explain the 2×2 factorial design. You can also click here to see this voicethread on the voicethread site.
If you go to the VoiceThread website get an account (it’s free) and you can insert your comments into this image as well. It’s pretty neat - try it out.
- The article discussed in this episode is Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness, by Elizabeth W. Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton, and it appeared in Science 21 March 2008: Vol. 319. no. 5870, pp. 1687 - 1688
Related Episodes
- The Good Samaritan Study
- Basic Research Design Part 1 (one independent variable with two and three groups)
- Basic Research Design Part 2 (factorial design with two independent variables)
