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Cognitive and Physiological Measures in Well-Being Science: Limitations and Lessons
Benjamin D Yetton1, Julia Revord2, Seth Margolis2
1Cognitive Science Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 30, 2019
Summary
This study found that recalling prosocial experiences improved well-being, as measured by self-report. However, objective cognitive and physiological measures did not detect intervention effects, suggesting self-report remains valuable.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Well-being Science
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Social and personality psychology often relies on self-report measures, which can be biased.
- There is a growing call for objective physiological and cognitive measures in well-being research.
- Advancements in technology offer new possibilities for objective measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cognitive and physiological measures, combined with machine learning, can quantify the effects of positive interventions.
- To contrast the cognitive and physiological effects of prosocial versus "antisocial" writing activities.
Main Methods:
- A two-part study with a college sample (N = 245).
- Random assignment to either a prosocial or "antisocial" writing condition.
- Assessment of cognitive (memory, attention, construal) and physiological (autonomic, electroencephalogram) measures.
Main Results:
- The study replicated previous findings on the benefits of recalling prosocial experiences via self-report.
- No significant effects of the writing intervention were detected on cognitive or physiological measures.
- Self-report measures successfully captured the intervention's impact, unlike objective measures.
Conclusions:
- Objective cognitive and physiological measures did not show the intervention's effects.
- Current objective measures may not be sensitive enough to detect changes from such interventions.
- Findings suggest that self-report measures should not be unilaterally replaced by objective measures in well-being science.
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