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The scientific value of numerical measures of human feelings

Author

Listed:
  • Caspar Kaiser

    (a Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TD United Kingdom;; b Institute for New Economic Thinking, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2ER United Kingdom;)

  • Andrew J. Oswald

    (a Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TD United Kingdom;; c Department of Economics, CAGE Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL United Kingdom;; d Institut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA), Bonn, 53113 Germany)

Abstract

Human feelings cannot be expressed on a numerical scale. There are no units of measurement for feelings. However, such data are extensively collected in the modern world—by governments, corporations, and international organizations. Why? Our study finds that a feelings integer (like my happiness is X out of 10 ) has more predictive power than a collection of socioeconomic influences. Moreover, there is a clear link between those feelings numbers and later get-me-out-of-here actions. Finally, the feelings-to-actions relationship appears replicable and not too far from linear. Remarkably, therefore, humans somehow manage to choose their numerical answers in a systematic way as though they sense within themselves—and can communicate—a reliable numerical scale for their feelings. How remains an unsolved puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Caspar Kaiser & Andrew J. Oswald, 2022. "The scientific value of numerical measures of human feelings," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119(42), pages 2210412119-, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:119:y:2022:p:e2210412119
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Costi, Chiara & Clark, Andrew E. & Lepinteur, Anthony & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2023. "Healthcare Workers and Life Satisfaction during the Pandemic," IZA Discussion Papers 16680, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Stöckel, Jannis & van Exel, Job & Brouwer, Werner B.F., 2023. "Adaptation in life satisfaction and self-assessed health to disability - Evidence from the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    3. Xiaogeng Xu & Satu Metsälampi & Michael Kirchler & Kaisa Kotakorpi & Peter Hans Matthews & Topi Miettinen, 2023. "Which income comparisons matter to people, and how? Evidence from a large field experiment," Working Papers 2023-05, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    4. Klein Teeselink, Bouke & Zauberman, Gal, 2023. "The Anna Karenina income effect: Well-being inequality decreases with income," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 501-513.
    5. Krekel, Christian & MacKerron, George, 2023. "Back to Edgeworth? Estimating the Value of Time Using Hedonic Experiences," IZA Discussion Papers 16308, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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