What is data-driven happiness?
The idea of data-driven happiness frames the pursuit of happiness in a new way. Instead of focusing on older notions about what may drive happiness like consumerism, we focus on what the data tells us. By taking this approach, we can better understand patterns of self-reported happiness throughout the American public. We can then use those insights to guide individuals, communities, and decision-makers toward choices that support well-being. At the end of the day, the pursuit of happiness is a personal journey of trying to determine what brings you joy. Using data instead of anecdotes allows us to better grasp what happiness really means in modern America.
What are Census Regions and Divisons?
Census regions and divisions are geographic groupings of states created by the U.S. Census Bureau. These groupings allow the bureau and other survey groups to publish geographic data when there aren’t enough responses to release state estimates. Using these classifications provide us some idea about a respondents location when state data isn’t available.
How did you make this visualization?
This visualization was created using data from the 2024 General Social Survey which is fielded by NORC. The data was then loaded into Tableau. If you have any other questions, reach out to us via email, on Instagram, or X.
