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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Ian Sample Science editor

Global happiness study aims to solve mystery of what gives us a boost

Man in suit holding a smiley face
The researchers hope to recruit at least 30,000 people worldwide for the trial. Photograph: Simon Belcher/Alamy

The science of happiness has spawned hundreds of thousands of studies, surveys, books and reviews, but what reliably lifts the spirits, to what extent, and who benefits most are still far from nailed down.

Now, psychologists have drawn up plans for the world’s largest happiness experiment to thrash out once and for all what really gives people an emotional boost, how effective different strategies are, and whether the benefits are the same around the globe.

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