The Pursuit of Happiness - Project Proposal

THE PURSUIT of

HAPPINESS

TINN MACY GRADE 12

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Tinn Macy

2

The Pursuit of Happiness

Foreword

This document is the project proposal for my high-school project, ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’. Within it, I hope that all the project details will be made clear and understandable. I will try my best to outline everything in a simple, yet explanatory manner. If there is anything missing, or you have any suggestions for improvement, then please feel free to contact me through the details that I have provided within this proposal. Thank you.

Tinn Macy 092-251-1331 tinnmacy@gmail.com FB: Tiny Tinn Tinn Twitter: @TinnMacy 3

Tinn Macy

ABSTRACT Short project summary including problem statement, objectives, key project activities, and total project budget.

P.6 CONTEXT Social, economic, political and cultural background from which the project was initiated.

Contains relevant data from research done during planning phase, or from other sources.

P.8 JUSTIFICATION Rationale for the project, problem statement, priority needs of the target group, proposed approach, and project aims, represented by a LogFrame Matrix and Theory of Change.

P.9 TARGET GROUP Detailed description of the target group of the project.

P.12 4

The Pursuit of Happiness

IMPLEMENTATION The project activity plan, Gantt chart, and details regarding resource allocation.

P.12 BUDGET Short summary of the project budget. Due to small funding pool, detailed description isn’t required.

P.14 MILESTONES Progress checking and reporting. Time frames for each milestone are established here.

P.14 BIBLIOGRAPHY All sources related to the project research can be found here.

P.16

OVERVIEW This project is a duo process. In other words, there is a plan A and B. Plan A is the development of an Android mobile application that can be used to determine the user’s overall and domain associated life satisfaction through the process of self-reflection and ratings to questions provided.

These questions will come from life satisfaction scales, such as the MSLSS or Multi-Dimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale.

Plan B involves the interviewing of a wide range of individuals under the same question, “What does happiness mean to you?”.

I believe that the different perspectives will be interesting to research when paired with the interviewee’s background and story. Happiness itself is quite hard to understand, as it is different for everyone.

Yet, perhaps we could identify similarities somewhere within the data.

5

Tinn Macy

ABSTRACT Humanity, over the ages, has searched far and wide for an answer to two simple questions. What is the meaning of happiness, and where can I find it? Some believe that they can find happiness in money, power, or sex. Others are simply content with what they have.

Something might make one man happy, and another man not. In the end, there is no one source of happiness, since it is different for everyone. To find it, one must make the journey on their own.

This journey may not even be a physical one, but a spiritual one.

What makes you happy, may not even be a physical object, but a psychological one. So, what makes you happy?

Over the course of this project, I hope that my work will help you answer the question that only you know the answer to. I will achieve this by asking you some very simple questions that you can rate your answer on, then compile the numbers to how happy you are overall. This may sound very similar to any normal life satisfaction survey on the web, but my research seeks to delve deeper than that. These questions that you’ll answer will be categorized based on the domain they’re related to. For example, school, work, home, etc. By doing this, I can then help

6

you identify where you are the most happy to be, and for what reason. Likewise, you’ll also be able to find out where and what makes you unhappy, so that you may commit to making a change in that area.

This survey will be accessible in the form of a mobile application. Within this application, there will be a record of your past statistics which you can examine and see your progression over time. If possible, I will also add helpful suggestions based on feedback, to assist you in living a happy life.

The project will be divided into a Research/Development, Prototyping, and Documentation Phase. The first phase of Research and Development, will consist of the selection of questions for the app, mostly taken from the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale, and programming of the actual application. The Prototyping Phase will see the app in use as an alpha or beta version. Any bugs or suggestions will be taken into accordance during this phase. Lastly, the Documentation Phase will contain all records regarding the project and statistical values granted by the users in the form of an article.

Other related documents may be included as well, such as the Risk

The Pursuit of Happiness

Register and Finances.

If the above goals can’t be met, then the core of the project shall remain. I will specify a target group for this main idea in a following section. This target group will be asked the simple questions of, “What does happiness mean to you?”, and, “What makes you happy?”

(More questions may arise without further notice). Their answers will be compiled into a paper document of some form. I believe that if even all the project has to show for is this document, it would technically still be quite successful. Providing a collection of different perspectives on the subject of happiness would make for an interesting read, and possibly make the reader selfreflection on their own definition of the subject. Therefore, the exact same result would occur, even without the application.

Overall, I don’t picture this application to be overly complicated, nor expensive to create. Therefore, my estimated budget for this project will be no more than $2,500 Baht. I may require some funds in order to purchase research material, and perhaps other unforeseen costs may arise.

7

Tinn Macy

CONTEXT

Depression is a major problem that effects everyone, regardless of age or status. It causes students to be less productive and get lower grades. It forces athletes to burn-out and lose their initial motivation for playing the sport that they loved. It can even wreak havoc on an individual’s physical health, work and relationships. This is why I came up with this project. To help take the first small step to letting everyone get out of their own way, and live a happy life.

8

The Pursuit of Happiness

JUSTIFICATION Problem Statvement Preventing depression while helping individuals to discover their own meaning of happiness.

Depression reduces productivity, is a mental and physical health hazard, and can even lead a person to take their own life.

Only by becoming fully satisfied and understanding one’s own life, will this problem be prevented.

Priority Needs Patients suffering with depression require consulting, medication and rehabilitation.

According to most studies, depression episodes usually last around 4 to 6 months. During this duration, all productivity, whether in life, school, or at work, sharply decreases in efficiency.

Proposed Approach Creation of a mobile application that will ask the user a series of questions that will help to determine that individual’s overall life and domain satisfaction by means of self-evaluation. Lower scores will alert the user of problems within that domain, so that they may make the required changes

to that aspect of their life.

Progression can be viewed, and perhaps helpful suggestions may be available.

Through frequent selfevaluations, I believe that the user will become much more aware of their personal life satisfaction. They’ll be able to develop their own ways of increasing their overall score, and in turn, prevent depression.

Project Aims Purpose: To find out the meaning of happiness.

Goals: Helping the user become more self-aware regarding their personal life satisfaction; helping to prevent depression; obtaining accurate statistical values for publication and further research.

Deliverables: - Magazine/Book - Android Application - Documentation/Bibliography - Risk Register - Theory of Change - Gantt Chart - Logframe Matrix - Expense Report - Activity Plan - Interview Logs - Website/FB Page

9

Tinn Macy

LOGFRAME MATRIX PROJECT SUMMARY

INDICATORS

MEANS OF VERIFICATION

RISKS / ASSUMPTIONS

Goal

Regular high scores on the life A decrease in depression High scores on the life satisfaction scales, without episodes and an increase of N/A any irregularities in the satisfaction scales. overall life satisfaction. progression data.

Outcome

Stats can be used for further research and documentation, and the self reflection improves the individual's self-awareness.

Increasing amount of Statistical progression and statistically probable cross-checking with other data gathered from the similar research done. same user.

Overall and domain scale values are taken into account by the user and sought out to be improved by them.

Outputs

Statistical values regarding a life satisfaction scale throughout a population will be collected, along with a progression system that helps users monitor their improvement.

Values obtained from the user's answers to Received feedback from the MSLSS and other testers and users. questions on the scale.

Values are true, and actual self-reflection is done.

Activities

Program and design UI for an Android application that helps increase an individual's awareness to their overall and doamin-oriented life satisfaction.

Increasing popularity of smart phones and the Prototyping and testing of use of applications to program. help improve one's lifestyle.

Users or subjects download the application and use it as intended.

10

The Pursuit of Happiness Problem

Target Group

Entry Point

Change

The Pursuit of Happiness Project

Goal

To prevent depression episodes, or decrease the severity of them.

To help people become more aware of their emotional levels, and to appreciate life as it is.

For them to live a happy life, no matter the circumstances they may find themselves in. And finally, to obtain reliable data for further research into the subject of happiness, and for project documentation.

Due to the extremely low budget, no actual stakeholders, except if you count the target group, are present. This project could potentially help increase the productivity of the target group, due to the prevention or drop in severity of depression episodes, thus saving the target group time and money. Or perhaps, the project doesn't become that popular and doesn't succeed to that extent, but is still able to empower a small group of people, perhaps from the target group, to change their lives for the better.

Stakeholders

Multiple perspectives will be provided on the same subject, leading to a broader view and possible conclusive response.

Wider Benefits

Increased level of self-awareness which could lead to change within the user's life based on previous records.

Wider Benefits

Compiled statistical values can be averaged out and specified by domain in order to assist further research.

Wider Benefits

Theory of Change Measurable Effect Values obtained from responses to life satisfaction scales.

Measurable Effect Regular use of the program, creating a progression report for the user.

Key Assumptions

The designated target group are individuals that are still in highschool and college.

The approximate age range being 15 - 22 years of age. Based on probability, the target group will most likely only consist of Thai citizens. To observe the difference between an average person and an athletic one, a category for high-school and collegiate athletes may be included into the target group, or separated as a second target group or control group, depending on the benefits of this group.

Key Assumptions

User feedback will help me further advance the program until it can serve the user's needs as seen fit.

Assuming that all goes well and the initial stage of the project is a success, then all that is required for change to happen is the regular use of the application.

I will add a record of the user's previous scores over time, and have them displayed prominently for their own benefit. By seeing this history, they can identify what needs to be changed in their lives, and perhaps go about doing it. If this isn't the case, then just regular self-reflection is good enough to start getting the user's more selfaware of their emotions.

Measurable Effect

Key Assumptions

Multiple perspectives and opinions will be obtained regarding the philosophy of happiness and what it means to different people.

Depression, lack of self-appreciation, and unawareness of overall life satisfaction. Everyone wants to and deserves to live a long and happy life, but any of us rarely do.

This is because of various external and internal aspects that come together to create what we call depression.

Depression episodes can last from at least 2 weeks all the way up to 6 months.

During this period, all productivity in all facets of the depressed individual's life decreases. This can effect not only the health of the individual, but their relationships and social status.

Key Assumptions

The severity of depression episodes to productivity will decrease through the use of this program.

Due to the massive popularity of smart phones and the use of applications to help improve one's lifestyle, I predict that the best way to reach the widest possible audience is through the creation of a mobile application. I will design this application for Android users first, and perhaps add iOS compatibility later on.

This app will be uploaded to the Play Store and provided for free download. Values obtained from the application will be stored and used for further research and documentation. I understand that the release of this app onto a public platform will not be target group specific, but I will add an option for the user to specify their age and employment.

Key Assumptions

Through the use of this application, the user's mental health will become stronger due to frequent self-reflection.

Further feedback on happiness or life satisfaction through helpful suggestions or opinions.

Values gained from program will be of great use for further research regarding the subject of life satisfaction aka. happiness.

11

Tinn Macy

TARGET GROUP This specified target group is defined for the main question of, “What is the meaning of Happiness?”, and not the target for the application. I hope the application will positively effect a much wider range of people, but the main question has solely been restricted to this group due to possibility of accessibility.

Age Range: 15-25 years of age Occupation: Students and Athletes (High-School & University) Nationality: Thai and International (If possible) Estimated Sample Size: 20 individuals of varying backgrounds Benefits: This target group is on average, the most effected by depression. This is due to the fact that this is the age group of productivity, expectations and change. The built up pressure can crush anyone who isn’t strong enough to withstand

it’s force. Therefore, this age group would also benefit the most, if this research is successful. As assumed, if the project is a success, frequent use of the application could possibly decrease the severity of depression episodes, due to more frequent self-reflection.

This leads to less loss in productivity, and a more positive mind-set for the upcoming challenges in life.

IMPLEMENTATION Personnel: Tinn Macy (Singular project under group subject) Activities: Researching journals that have been done on a similar subject, implementing found research for project goals, interviewing subjects from target group, learning how to program in java and create an Android application, implementing data from research into application, prototyping of application, live alpha/beta testing of application, documentation of found variables, compilation into physical deliverables and presentation.

Resource Allocation: The scarcest resource is time. Due to my already busy schedule, I may not have enough time to complete all goals set within the project proposal. There is certainly no way to purchase time, and I can’t plan out the exact amount of hours that I’ll spend working on this project, as the future is still unclear. I’ll attempt to give my best estimate as to the actual hours I’ll clock in.

Estimated Total Hours: 150 hours Current Work Hours: 83 hours 55 minutes Time Frame: 108 days ~ 16 weeks Start: August 31st, 2017 End: December 16th, 2017

12

The Pursuit of Happiness

PLAN A ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Activity

Predecessor

Research Implementation Programming Prototyping Testing Documentation Presentation

Total

Opt. (O)

Research Implementation Programming Prototyping Testing Testing

Plan A is the process towards achieving the result of an Android application. One used to help measure and record the statistical levels of life satisfaction of that user. As you can see in the above chart, the largest portion of time is spent on the programming

Time Estimates (Weeks) Normal (M) Pess. (P) 1 1 4 2 1 1 1

1 1 6 3 2 2 1

2 2 7 3 4 3 2

11

16

23

phase. This is due to the fact that I (or anyone for that matter) require time to code, learn, and debug the program, before it can actually be used. Due to my lack of experience within this field, I must be truthful when I say that the probability of me completing

Avg. (A) 1.166666667 1.166666667 5.833333333 2.833333333 2.166666667 2 1.166666667 16.33333333

this task within the allocated time frame is certainly slim. Because of this, I have prepared a Plan B, so that the process of the project will most certainly lead to a beneficial result, no matter the circumstances.

PLAN B ID 1 2 3 4 5

Activity Research Implementation Interview Documentation Presentation

Predecessor Research Implementation Interview Interview

Total Plan B was created after the evaluation of Plan A success wasn’t certain enough to definitely create a positive result.

The difference between these two plans is simply the presence of an application. Plan B doesn’t involve, nor require much coding knowledge, and is still able to achieve a similar result. Plan

Opt. (O)

1 1 6 2 1

Time Estimates (Weeks) Normal (M) Pess. (P)

11 B involves me interviewing different individuals on what the meaning of happiness is to them. What their background is, and why it means the way that they define it. These records will be published in the form of a book, magazine, or other form of media. Readers of this article will be provided with

1 1 9 4 1

2 2 12 5 2

16

23

Avg. (A) 1.166666667 1.166666667 9 3.833333333 1.166666667 16.33333333

insight towards the meaning of happiness, and will most likely begin to self-reflect on their own life satisfaction. Therefore, the projected result will still be the same, just the way that it is introduced to them differs.

13

Tinn Macy

BUDGET Due to the nature of my project, I don’t see the total cost going above 2,500 Baht. For the programming plan, I don’t need to purchase any additional content, unless if there is a cost to upload to the Play Store.

Then, for the interviews, the only possible cost may be travel, but it can easily be done over the phone or online. The only definite associated cost would be the printing of documentation.

MILESTONES PRE-PRODUCTION Research and setup of organizational system for project documents.

August-September

PRODUCTION Programming (Plan A) and Interviewing (Plan B) of possible subjects. Responses and results will all be recorded in the system that was previously setup.

October-November

POST-PRODUCTION Compilation of data gathered.

Spreading of data through various media sources, and archiving of all project files.

December

14

The Pursuit of Happiness

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

GANTT CHART ID Week 1 Plan A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Plan B 1 2 3 4 5

Time Probability Knowledge Time Data Knowledge Resource

Type

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Purchased Adobe programs.

Countermeasure Status Focus on getting exams done E New project direction.

E Partition time to learn skills.

C C Work with what I have.

C C E

Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16

A A A H H M A

% of Occurence Severity

Pursuit of Happiness Project - Risk Register No time to work on project because of exams.

Low probability of success for original project idea.

Slight learning curve due to new project direction.

Finished product may not be in time for deadline.

A large enough sample to represent the target group may not be obtained.

Inability to upload app to the Play Store.

No suitable programs for documentation.

Description

RISK REGISTER 6/10/17 20/10/17 25/10/17 25/10/17 25/10/17 25/10/17 11/11/2017

Number Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

15

Tinn Macy

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. “Theory of Change.”

Development Impact and You, DIY Tool Kit, 1 Dec. 2016, diytoolkit.org/tools/theoryof-change/. Theory of Change reference and guide 2. Bullen, Piroska Bisits.

“Theory of Change vs Logical Framework – what’s the difference?” tools4dev, www. tools4dev.org/resources/theoryof-change-vs-logical-frameworkwhats-the-difference-in-practice/.

3. Fedders, Line Emilie.

“What makes people happy?”

Technologist, 11 Mar. 2015, www. technologist.eu/what-makespeople-happy/. Further reading about happiness 4. Hysenbegasi, A., Hass, S. L., & Rowland, C. R. (2005).

The Impact of Depression on the Academic Productivity of University Students. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 8, 145-151. Retrieved October 27, 2017.

5. Doherty S, Hannigan B, and Campbell MJ (2016).

The Experience of Depression during the Careers of Elite Male Athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:1069. DOI: 10.3389/ fpsyg.2016.01069

16

6. Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre, Glyn C. Roberts & Jim StrayGundersen (2007). Motivation, overtraining, and burnout: Can self-determined motivation predict overtraining and burnout in elite athletes?.

European Journal of Sport Science, 7:2, 115-126, DOI: 10.1080/17461390701302607 7. Huebner, S. (2001).

Manual for the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale. 2-8. Scale for measuring a student’s overall and domainspecific level of life satisfaction.

8. “Depression.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Oct. 2013, www.cdc. gov/mentalhealth/data_stats/ depression.htm.

9. Pratt LA, Brody DJ. Depression in the United States household population, 2005–2006. NCHS Data Brief.

2008(7):1–8.