The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Measuring subjective wellbeing
A. Subjective wellbeing concerns people’s self-reported wellbeing (e.g. life satisfaction, happiness, psychological wellbeing). Survey questions of this nature aim to measure how people think and feel about their wellbeing rather than relying on more traditional objective indicators such as the level of educational achievement, employment, crime or material wellbeing. Indeed, human perception is fundamental to the definition of wellbeing and it can be argued that the only person who really knows whether a person is feeling well is the experiencing self (Layard, 2005). Survey questions that ask people to evaluate their own wellbeing allow for individual differences in terms of values and identity to be expressed. Although one person may answer a life satisfaction question by placing significant emphasis on their salary and job security, another may answer the same question by placing significant emphasis on their family relationships and health. This means that such measures capture what people think and feel rather than focussing on observable phenomena that sometimes have little bearing on peoples’ wellbeing.
B. Objective measures of wellbeing often fail to tap into what people think or feel, so have to assume certain observable factors influence wellbeing in certain ways. Generally speaking, objective measures focus on either objective-list or preference-satisfaction accounts, with a view to either improving objective circumstances such as health and education (Sen, 1999) or increasing the choices people have by raising average incomes (Harsanyi, 1982). Although objective measures of wellbeing are crucial, they cannot tell the whole story and the array of indicators currently available (e.g. numeracy, literacy and crime rates) sometimes complicates the picture, with many observable factors acting as proxies for what really matters.
C. The main advantage of asking people to assess their own wellbeing is that paternalism (prescriptive questions that assume certain things are good or bad for wellbeing) can be avoided and people’s thoughts and feelings are placed at the centre of policy. Although objective measures tend to correlate well with subjective wellbeing (Di Telia & MacCulloch, 2007; Oswald, 1997), they generally only account for a small proportion of one’s life satisfaction or happiness (Galloway et al, 2005) Scottish Executive, 2005). Measures of subjective wellbeing, however, are seen by many as getting to the heart of the issue (Layard, 2005).
D. Although Victorian social policy emphasised the importance of promoting mental health, the rise of behaviourism in the 1950s heavily influenced disciplines such as Psychology and Economics and encouraged the measurement of what is observable (behaviour) to the exclusion of what is unobservable (the mind). By and large, UK social and economic policy since the Great War has focussed predominantly on improving the economy and meeting the material needs of the population. Mental health and psychological needs have been conceived as harder to measure, unreliable and within an individual’s own responsibility. Objective measures of wellbeing have been favoured for some time because they’re easier to measure and observable through behaviour.
E. Nonetheless, an encouraging literature is now emerging suggesting that subjective wellbeing is a valid construct that can be reliably measured. Much recent research indicates that measures of subjective wellbeing tend to correlate well with other people’s views, behavioural data, brain activity and objective characteristics such as unemployment (see Layard 2005 for a useful review). Crucially, the last 10 years have seen a number of government and non-government reports begin to unpick how the UK could generate meaningful data of this nature. Political momentum has also gathered pace alongside the abundance of research now regularly published in fields as diverse as behavioural economics, psychology, neuroscience and philosophy.
F. Strong arguments are developing suggesting that now is a good time to generate national data on subjective wellbeing. The idea is that these data can then be used by policy makers alongside other measures that go beyond GDP (Dolan & White, 2007; Michaelson, Abdallah, Steuer, Thompson & Marks, 2008). The well-cited ‘Eastertin Paradox’ demonstrates that UK levels of life satisfaction and happiness have not risen since the 1950s despite unprecedented economic growth, and although this research has been criticised for not taking into account the use of bounded measures to measure subjective wellbeing, it does suggest that much more than economic growth is required to elevate wellbeing.
G. Whether measured as an end to itself or as a means to an end, such subjective wellbeing data could be used to: a) monitor ‘the state of play’; b) inform new policy; c) promote public wellbeing; and evaluate the impact of new or existing policies on wellbeing. The evidence suggests that various social and economic factors affect self-reported wellbeing, so it should be possible to influence subjective wellbeing via policy. A growing body of research also suggests that high levels of subjective wellbeing are a partial cause of various positive life events and outcomes (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005).
H. Interest in measuring subjective wellbeing has grown considerably over recent years in the UK. Indeed, a number of major social surveys in the UK already include subjective wellbeing questions, and it seems that various policy areas could make use of these data. The question therefore is not whether to measure subjective wellbeing, but how to do this from now on. The balance between exploiting data that already exist and generating new data needs to be explored further, based on whether unmet user requirements exist.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | the fact that objective measures of wellbeing do not give a full picture of wellbeing. | ||||||||
| 2 | research stating that data on subjective wellbeing can be used with measures other than GDP. | ||||||||
| 3 | suggestions foruse of data on subjective wellbeing. | ||||||||
| 4 | a reference to the focus of government policy of satisfying the population’s material needs. | ||||||||
| 5 | an explanation of the term subjective wellbeing |
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Partial truth explained - objective measures are important but incomplete
Why this is correct: Paragraph B clearly says that objective measures are useful but they cannot tell the whole story. It explains that many indicators only act as proxies for what really matters, so they do not give a full picture of wellbeing.
Passage Reference: Objective measures of wellbeing often fail to tap into what people think or feel, so have to assume certain observable factors influence wellbeing in certain ways. Generally speaking, objective measures focus on either objective-list or preference-satisfaction accounts, with a view to either improving objective circumstances such as health and education (Sen, 1999) or increasing the choices people have by raising average incomes (Harsanyi, 1982). Although objective measures of wellbeing are crucial, they cannot tell the whole story and the array of indicators currently available (e.g. numeracy, literacy and crime rates) sometimes complicates the picture, with many observable factors acting as proxies for what really matters.
Common Mistake: Students often choose Paragraph C because it compares objective and subjective measures. That is a Wrong section trap because Paragraph C focuses on advantages of subjective wellbeing, not on the limits of objective measures.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'cannot tell the whole story' = Statement: 'do not give a full picture'
Tips: Look for evaluative phrases like cannot tell the whole story when a statement asks about limits or weaknesses.
Key Vocabulary:
- proxies = indirect signs
- objective = based on observable facts
Question Focus: Synonym match - 'other than GDP' = 'go beyond GDP'
Passage Reference: Strong arguments are developing suggesting that now is a good time to generate national data on subjective wellbeing. The idea is that these data can then be used by policy makers alongside other measures that go beyond GDP (Dolan & White, 2007; Michaelson, Abdallah, Steuer, Thompson & Marks, 2008). The well-cited 'Eastertin Paradox' demonstrates that UK levels of life satisfaction and happiness have not risen since the 1950s despite unprecedented economic growth, and although this research has been criticised for not taking into account the use of bounded measures to measure subjective wellbeing, it does suggest that much more than economic growth is required to elevate wellbeing.
Why this is correct: Paragraph F directly mentions that subjective wellbeing data can be used alongside other measures that go beyond GDP. This clearly matches the idea of using wellbeing data with measures other than GDP.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph G because it talks about using data in policy. That is a Context shift trap because Paragraph G explains uses of data, not combining it with GDP alternatives.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'go beyond GDP' = Statement: 'other than GDP'
Tips: When you see GDP in the statement, scan for GDP or economic growth words in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- alongside = together with
- GDP = economic output of a country
Question Focus: Direct match - list of practical uses
Passage Reference: Whether measured as an end to itself or as a means to an end, such subjective wellbeing data could be used to: a) monitor 'the state of play'; b) inform new policy; c) promote public wellbeing; and evaluate the impact of new or existing policies on wellbeing.
Why this is correct: Paragraph G gives a clear list of how subjective wellbeing data could be used, such as monitoring, informing policy, and evaluating impact. This is exactly what the statement asks for.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes pick Paragraph H because it mentions policy areas. That is a Partial truth trap because it talks about interest and data collection, not specific uses.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'could be used to monitor, inform, evaluate' = Statement: 'suggestions for use of data'
Tips: When a statement says 'suggestions', expect to see verbs like could be used to followed by examples.
Key Vocabulary:
- evaluate = judge the effect
- inform = help guide
Question Focus: Synonym match - 'material needs' = 'economy and material needs'
Passage Reference: By and large, UK social and economic policy since the Great War has focussed predominantly on improving the economy and meeting the material needs of the population.
Why this is correct: Paragraph D clearly states that UK policy has focused on improving the economy and meeting the material needs of the population. This directly matches the statement.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph B because it mentions education and income. That is a Paraphrase trap because it discusses measures, not government policy focus.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'meeting the material needs of the population' = Statement: 'satisfying the population's material needs'
Tips: For government policy questions, scan for time periods and references to national policy.
Key Vocabulary:
- material needs = physical and economic needs
- predominantly = mostly
Question Focus: Definition match - explanation of a key term
Passage Reference: Subjective wellbeing concerns people's self-reported wellbeing (e.g. life satisfaction, happiness, psychological wellbeing). Survey questions of this nature aim to measure how people think and feel about their wellbeing rather than relying on more traditional objective indicators such as the level of educational achievement, employment, crime or material wellbeing. Indeed, human perception is fundamental to the definition of wellbeing and it can be argued that the only person who really knows whether a person is feeling well is the experiencing self (Layard, 2005). Survey questions that ask people to evaluate their own wellbeing allow for individual differences in terms of values and identity to be expressed. Although one person may answer a life satisfaction question by placing significant emphasis on their salary and job security, another may answer the same question by placing significant emphasis on their family relationships and health. This means that such measures capture what people think and feel rather than focussing on observable phenomena that sometimes have little bearing on peoples' wellbeing.
Why this is correct: Paragraph A defines subjective wellbeing as people's self-reported wellbeing and explains what this includes. This is a clear explanation of the term.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose Paragraph C because it talks about advantages. That is a Wrong section trap because advantages are not the same as a definition.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'self-reported wellbeing' = Statement: 'explanation of the term subjective wellbeing'
Tips: Definitions are usually found at the beginning of a passage, often in Paragraph A.
Key Vocabulary:
- self-reported = reported by the person themselves
- wellbeing = how well someone feels
General Tips:
- Matching Features questions do not follow strict passage order - scan paragraph by paragraph.
- Look for definition language like 'concerns', 'means', or 'is defined as' for explanation questions.
- Focus on meaning, not repeated words - IELTS often uses paraphrasing.
- Do not match based on topic alone - check that the paragraph answers the exact idea in the statement.
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