Access to Data and Tools for Researchers

About the Study and Commitment to Open Science

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, China (Hong Kong), Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, 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.

GFS measures global human flourishing in six areas:

  1. Happiness and life satisfaction
  2. Mental and physical health
  3. Meaning and purpose
  4. Character and virtue
  5. Close social relationships
  6. Material and financial stability

5

years

22

countries

200,000

participants

Webinars

Sign up for upcoming webinars to learn more about the Global Flourishing Study.

Understanding and Accessing Wave 1 Data

 

Understanding and Accessing Wave 1 Data for Researchers

Jan. 31, 2024 at 11:00 am ET

Join Zacc Ritter (Gallup), Theresa Stankov (COS), and Lesley Markham (COS) for a webinar on the wave 1 Global Flourishing Study data. Following a brief introduction to the study, the presenters will cover topics such as survey development, validated measures, and methodology, codebook, and file types followed by a Q&A about the data.

Sign Up Now

If you would like personal assistance with your preregistration or Registered Report, please contact globalflourishing@cos.io.

About the Data

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.

Learn More About Data Access

 

Research and Funding Partners

The GFS is a collaboration between researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science.

Stay Connected with GFS

I'm interested in data access news and updates about the Global Flourishing Study
Global Flourishing Study
Questions about the GFS data access can be directed to globalflourishing@cos.io.
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