Happiness Research

As parents, we all want our children to be happy and happiness has been described as a significant variable in education but we remain uncertain about the nature of happiness as perceived by gifted children, adolescents and their parents. What is happiness? What are the circumstances and contexts where happiness is experienced? Knowing how gifted children’s perspectives about happiness might differ from other students, will enable us all to better understand the impact of happiness upon gifted children’s wellbeing, engagement and learning. Formally identified gifted students from Prep to University level and their parents are invited to participate in small group discussions and to complete a couple of questionnaires as part of a small study I am conducting early next year to explore the nature of happiness among the gifted population.