In the short time since the publication of the Handbook of Positive Psychology esearch results on the psychology of human strengths have proliferated. However, no major volume has documented the methods and theory used to achieve these results. Oxford Handbook of Methods in Positive Psychology fills this need, providing a broad overview of diverse contemporary methods in positive psychology. With contributions from both leading scholars and promising young investigators, the handbook serves to illuminate and, at times, challenge traditional approaches. Incorporating multiple levels of analysis, from biology to culture, the contributors present state-of-the art techniques, including those for estimating variability and change at the level of the individual, identifying reliability of measurements within and across individuals, and separating individual differences in growth from aspects of phenomena that exhibit shorter-term variability over time. The volume covers such topics as wisdom, health, hope, resilience, religion, relationships, emotions, well-being, character strengths, and laughter. It enhances our understanding of the balance between human deficits and strengths and demonstrates their connections to other problems. Oxford Handbook of Methods in Positive Psychology will be the essential reference for methods in positive psychology.

Part I. Intraindividual Variability; Part II. Intraindividual Change--Dynamic Factor Analysis; Part III. Interindividual Differences: Measurement Issues--Structural Equation Modeling--Measurement Invariance--Experimental Methods--Behavior Genetics; Part IV. Interindividual Differences in Intraindividual Variability--Spectral Analysis and Item Response Models--Dynamic Systems Analysis; Part V. Interindividual Differences in Intraindividual Change--Latent Growth Analysis--Hierarchical Linear Modeling--Latent Class Models

"This wonderful book is an absolute must for researchers who are studying positive psychology, and will do much to advance the sophistication of this field. Other scientists, however, will also profit from the excellent treatment of advanced issues by experts in the field, with topics such as hierarchical linear modeling, experience-sampling, dynamic factor analysis and systems analysis, spectral analysis, and latent growth curve models. A bonus is the inclusion of chapters on topics such as hardiness, character, and wisdom that integrate conceptual and methodological issues. This is a superb reference on advanced research design."--Ed Diener, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Editor, Perspectives on Psychological Science, and Journal of Happiness Studies