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Abstract

Can “happiness” be taught? In the spring of 2015 the Northern Arizona University’s Parks and Recreation Management program introduced a new course, PRM 205 Happiness. A study of the fall 2015 PRM 205 Happiness courses (campus section and distance section) were conducted to determine if the PRM 205 Happiness course resulted in measurable changes in student “happiness” scores. Also, if there were any differences between campus and distance delivery modes and student “happiness” scores. A Pre-test / Post-test survey design using the Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire (Fordyce, 1988) was conducted on both a campus class (N=49) and a distance class (N=23). The results of t-Tests showed a positive increase in student happiness scores in both the campus (t=5.2, df=48, p=3.96x10-6) and distance (t=4.765, df=22, p=9.3x10-5) courses. Campus vs Distance Course Delivery t-Test results (t = -1.313, df=70, p=0.193) indicted that the null was accepted, there was no statistically significant difference in student happiness between the campus/in person and the distance/online delivery modes.

Keywords

happiness, positive psychology, leisure, recreation, assessment, distance education

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