"Happines" On-line Quesstionnaire

1. Do you think these data collection tools are valid scientific tools? Why or Why not?
2. Do you think your results would be if you took the on-line questionnaire at a different time, on a different day? Why or why not?
3. Which of the two tools is better to do with a large group of people to discover patterns of happiness in a given population? Why do you think that one is better suited?

On-line questionnaires became a popular way of collecting information. It is a great tool that helps scientists and researchers to approach their big or wide spread samples. For example, e-businesses and e-services including psychological ones are rapidly increasing. They continuously apply online assessments and evaluations.

In order to guarantee the results of this new procedure, it is necessary to have reliable and valid assessment tools. A reliable questionnaire is the one that would give the same results if it used repeatedly with the same group. Statisticians have created tests of reliability for questionnaires. These tests help to know whether the results are meaningful. If the questionnaire is not reliable then it is not valid. In addition reliable questionnaire may not be valid if it is employed in situations it was not designed for.

The reasons why someone would use on-line questionnaires are because of their ability to be easily corrected and their flexibility to display the contents with graphics, help screens or menus. In addition, it is cost effective and time saving because its feedback data will be automatically gathered and analyzed. On the other hand, this tool has disadvantages like: if the targeted sample can’t access the internet, don’t receipt the online questionnaires or don’t know how to use it.

The design of the questionnaire affects the quality of the data gathered through it. Other factors, like sample size, questionnaire’s ability to control different response patterns or ability to detect collusion, also affect the quality and the reliability of the results

Credible questionnaire should consider several important factors like the objectives of gathering the data, the avoidance of biased information and false conclusions. In addition, it should begin with short introduction to explain why the questionnaire is taking place and what the information will be used for, be simple and understandable and should be tested before being launched. Moreover, it should provide concise instructions to clarify any complex options. Open-ended questions are recommended to be included in online questionnaires that ask for feelings, likes, dislikes, opinions and memory recall. To avoid untrusted answers, questions should be logically sequenced and answers should have consistent and similar rating scales throughout the questionnaire. In addition answers should include neutral answers like “I don’t know” to help the participants to feel confidence if they don’t have answers. Moreover, to provide better quality of data and avoid reluctant participants, channels for distributing the questionnaire (emails, ads, bulletin boards or specified sites) should be chose carefully to help attracting the targeted sample.

Regarding the questionnaire of “Happiness”, I don’t think it is credible because it doesn’t include what I have mentioned up. The options of the answers were organized in a way that lead the participant to choose his/her results “happy or unhappy”. The firs choices always for unhappy person and the last choices are for happy results. In my opinion this is a kind of questionnaire that is not able to detect collusion (answering the questionnaire to make the results come out a particular way). It can be used for fun but not for scientific survey. To study the pattern of happiness in large society I think we need other methods because happiness is affected by different factors that influence mood, personality and attitude. However, credible on-line questionnaires can be successfully applied for students and young people.

Population and Saudi Women

The powerful Gulf kingdom is grappling with many demographic challenges. High among these challenges are a large, young population; fertility rates of almost 6 children per woman; high population growth; and a large expatriate population.

Saudi Arabia has an extremely young population. Of the country's 24 million people, 43 percent are under the age of 15. UN estimates place the population growth rate for 1995-2000 at 3.5 percent, and according to the United Nations, rapid growth is placing increasing pressure on social sectors, including the country's public school system.

Foreign workers have long played a key role in Saudi Arabia's economy. The Millennium Development Goals Report for Saudi Arabia issued by the United Nations notes that non-Saudis accounted for roughly one quarter of the population in 1999. Indeed, among women who were employed that year, only 32 percent were nationals of the country. Non-Saudi labor is especially apparent in the areas of domestic service and childrearing, according to the report.

In general, employment opportunities for Saudi women are limited. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that the unemployment rate for women in 2001 was 9 percent, compared with close to 4 percent for men, and opportunities for women are concentrated in the education and health services sectors. Literacy rates for women are also much lower than those of men. Some 67 percent of women 15 years and over are literate, compared with 84 percent of men.

Saudi Arabia Facts and Figures

Population in mid-2002 is 24,000,000
Population 2025 (projected) to be 40,900,000
infant deaths per 1,000 live births is 19
Total Fertility Rate (average no. of children born to a woman) is 5.7
Population Under Age 15, is 43 %

Population Over Age 65, is 3%
Life Expectancy at Birth, Both Sexes (years) is 72
Urban Population is 83 %
Contraceptive Use Among Married Women 15-49, is 32%
Maternal Deaths per 100,000 Live Births is 23%
Literacy Rate (ages 15+), 2000, Female, is 67%
Literacy Rate (ages 15+), 2000, Male, 84%
Secondary School Enrollment, 1993-1997, Female, is 57%
Secondary School Enrollment, 1993-1997, Male, is 65%

Labor Force Participation (ages 15-64), 2000, Female, is 23

Labor Force Participation (ages 15-64), 2000, Male, is 82%

Average Age at First Marriage, Female, 22
Illiterate Males Ages 15-19, is 4%
Illiterate Females Ages 15-19, is 16%

Sources: Carl Haub, 2002 World Population Data Sheet (Washington, DC: PRB, 2002); Justine Sass and Lori Ashford, 2002 Women of Our World (Washington, DC: PRB, 2002); and Carl Haub and Britt Herstad, Family Planning Worldwide, 2002 Data Sheet (Washington, DC: PRB, 2002).

While the youth bulge and coincided demands on the labor force, educational, housing, health, and other social systems are getting more attention now, other demographic trends will continue to affect our country. As the youth reaches family-formation age in our country, the number of births is likely to increase, fueling more future growth. The population of Saudi is projected to double by 2050.

The prospect of larger populations in the future means that government is increasingly challenged to provide the basic needs for a growing numbers of citizens, adequate housing, sanitation, health care, education, and jobs. In my opinion, investments in today's youth, particularly in girls as they form more than 45 percent of our population, can yield potentially large payoffs for our future development.

As their number is increasing, the government has provided more opportunities for women in the work force. The latest statistics show that 54 percent of university graduates are women. Employers seek these well-qualified women due to their determination and professionalism.

Saudi young women today are more aware of their strengths and capabilities and are more aware of our demographic and domestic changes. The status of women in the Kingdom is slowly changing, and women determined to assert their position as contributing citizens in all fields: Socially, economically and politically. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah shows his great support and respect for women. The king has vowed to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of empowering women and has called for the integration of women into the work force.

Fortunately, Saudis’ young women are reaping the benefits of population changes.

Gender & Cross-cultural marriage

Males and females all live on the same planet, and interact with each other on a daily basis, despite what has been written about them being from different planets and having their own cultures. It’s good to recognize communication differences between males and females, but we have to not stereotype and assume that males all communicate in the same way and females all communicate the same way. Too often men and women see the differences between each other and make it a big issue, rather than trying to benefit from those differences.

Can cross cultural marriage work? In my opinion, yes, cross cultural marriage can work. When man and woman of two cultural backgrounds join in marriage, the relationship can be enriched. However, obstacles first need to be identified and addressed. It depends on what he/she expects when marrying someone from another culture, and whether that one can give him/her what he/she expects. It's important to have an awareness of cross-cultural differences, perspectives and issues.

Life is not complicated, but not easy, too.

My Book Presentation Experience

Reading "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" was really a great experience for me as it was my first english novel. The Title atracted me and the simple words of the writer really satisfied me. Working in a group to present the novel was also a good job to discuss our different points of view in order to accomplish the tasks even if we had diffrent opinions about the novel. I plan to read the rest eight books of this series. Moreover, I recommend it to any novel reading lovers.