This is a bit of a digression, but I would generally recommend against a) linking the original source directly if you’ve only read the summary (instead you should probably cite/link the summary first), and b) (although this is more work) generally trusting summaries for data/figures without doing quick epistemic spot checks on on the quality of the summaries.
a) While in formal writing, there are specific formats of citing others’ citations, in this context, I decided to link the report directly, alongside with this comment thread that reads
I added the 4.5 value from the 2019 World Happiness Report also cited by HLI.
In this comment, the HLI’s Estimating moral weights page (with the footnote) to which I referred several times in this thread is not referenced, because I assumed that those who read this thread carefully are already familiar with the page and those who are quickly skimming do not need to be distracted by that link.
I am keeping in mind that this is the Change Our Mind contest. Citing HLI could be read as an intent to convince GiveWell to implement HLI’s framework, which they are familiar with, by repetition. WHR allows readers to form and update their opinions based on data which does not intend to change GiveWell’s mind. Thus, WHR can change the mind of an evidence-based decisionmaker better.
Further, historically, GiveWell has used top statistical evidence to make its recommendations. WHR enjoys similar level of comprehensiveness as RCT-based research, while HLI’s research is more speculative. Thus, WHR can allow GiveWell to change their mind more consistently with its fundamental values than HLI’s research.
b) I have not checked the Report, but rather deferred to HLI’s standards of citing statistics. I reviewed some papers cited by HLI and did not find inconsistency (other than the vague sample size interpretation as further above in this thread). This can be understood as a form of a spot check.
Nevertheless, I searched for the statistic in the 2019 WHR. (I used the search function for “4.5” and “Kenya”.) “Kenya (4.509)” is cited as the value on p. 29 of the WHR pdf (pp. 26–27 of the document). I added the page reference.
This actually leads me to the methodology of the WHR. It seems like ‘happiness’ is a function of (pp. 26–27):
GDP per capita
Social support
Healthy life expectancy
Freedom to make life choices
Generosity
Perceptions of corruption
(Constant)
Although this can cover many aspects of happiness, other factors which could influence this metric (including by changing its sign), such as the normality of abuse or parental acceptance/rejection, do not seem to be included. WHR ‘happiness’ can thus measure governance quality and public cooperation rather than seek to understand intended beneficiaries’ quality of life. However, further research is needed.
I also added a note on the interpretation of this metric.
This is a bit of a digression, but I would generally recommend against
a) linking the original source directly if you’ve only read the summary (instead you should probably cite/link the summary first), and
b) (although this is more work) generally trusting summaries for data/figures without doing quick epistemic spot checks on on the quality of the summaries.
a) While in formal writing, there are specific formats of citing others’ citations, in this context, I decided to link the report directly, alongside with this comment thread that reads
In this comment, the HLI’s Estimating moral weights page (with the footnote) to which I referred several times in this thread is not referenced, because I assumed that those who read this thread carefully are already familiar with the page and those who are quickly skimming do not need to be distracted by that link.
I am keeping in mind that this is the Change Our Mind contest. Citing HLI could be read as an intent to convince GiveWell to implement HLI’s framework, which they are familiar with, by repetition. WHR allows readers to form and update their opinions based on data which does not intend to change GiveWell’s mind. Thus, WHR can change the mind of an evidence-based decisionmaker better.
Further, historically, GiveWell has used top statistical evidence to make its recommendations. WHR enjoys similar level of comprehensiveness as RCT-based research, while HLI’s research is more speculative. Thus, WHR can allow GiveWell to change their mind more consistently with its fundamental values than HLI’s research.
b) I have not checked the Report, but rather deferred to HLI’s standards of citing statistics. I reviewed some papers cited by HLI and did not find inconsistency (other than the vague sample size interpretation as further above in this thread). This can be understood as a form of a spot check.
Nevertheless, I searched for the statistic in the 2019 WHR. (I used the search function for “4.5” and “Kenya”.) “Kenya (4.509)” is cited as the value on p. 29 of the WHR pdf (pp. 26–27 of the document). I added the page reference.
This actually leads me to the methodology of the WHR. It seems like ‘happiness’ is a function of (pp. 26–27):
GDP per capita
Social support
Healthy life expectancy
Freedom to make life choices
Generosity
Perceptions of corruption
(Constant)
Although this can cover many aspects of happiness, other factors which could influence this metric (including by changing its sign), such as the normality of abuse or parental acceptance/rejection, do not seem to be included. WHR ‘happiness’ can thus measure governance quality and public cooperation rather than seek to understand intended beneficiaries’ quality of life. However, further research is needed.
I also added a note on the interpretation of this metric.