The Global Flourishing Study (GFS) is a five-year longitudinal data collection and research collaboration between researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science (COS), and with the support of a consortium of funders. As part of this project, COS is making the data from the study an open access resource so researchers, journalists, policymakers, and educators worldwide can access detailed information about what makes for a flourishing life.
This initiative includes data collection for approximately 200,000 participants from 22 geographically and culturally diverse countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Russia*, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The study will obtain nationally representative data within each country, with collection on the same panel of individuals annually.
*The first wave of data collection excludes Russia
GFS measures global human flourishing in six areas:
5
years
22
countries
200,000
participants
An Introduction to Wave 1 Sample Data
Sept. 13 at 16:00hrs UTC / Sept. 14 at 24:00hrs UTC / Sept. 14 at 10:00hrs UTC
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This webinar provides an introduction to the Global Flourishing Study, discusses how to use the sample data set from this study, and how to gain early access to the full dataset when it becomes available.
Preregistration and Registered Reports
Sept. 27 at 17:00hrs UTC / Sept. 28 at 11:00hrs UTC / Sept. 29 at 01:00hrs UTC
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In this webinar, COS staff will provide an in-depth review of preregistration and Registered Reports to prepare researchers for early access to the data from the Global Flourishing Study.
The webinar on September 27, 2023 at 17:00hrs UTC will be live. The remaining sessions will feature recorded content with live Q&A and a moderator.
Data from the first wave will be available for early access in the coming months for those that have preregistered their analysis plans or are planning a Registered Report with an eligible journal. Each subsequent wave will be available approximately one year later.
One purpose of the GFS is to provide longitudinal data to enable more rigorous research designs for many research questions than can be investigated with cross-sectional data. For this first wave release, the benefits of longitudinal data are not yet present in the data itself. To meet this purpose, researchers should construct a synthetic longitudinal study either by linking the GFS data to other datasets or by using the retrospective childhood assessments within the wave 1 data. At least one of the questions or hypotheses should then be tested with this synthetic longitudinal design.
Sample data for the first wave is available now to help researchers prepare their analysis plan.
The following pages contain the information you will need to apply for access to the GFS data including workflows, templates, guides, training materials, agreements, and FAQs. COS strongly recommends reviewing the pages prior to proceeding to the GFS Registry to request access.
The GFS is a collaboration between researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science.
The GFS is generously funded by the John Templeton Foundation, Templeton Religion Trust, Templeton World Charity Foundation, Well-Being for Planet Earth, Fetzer Institute, Well Being Trust, Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, and the David & Carol Myers Foundation.
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