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Using word analysis to track the evolution of emotional well-being in nineteenth-century industrializing Britain.
- Source :
- Historical Methods; Oct-Dec 2021, Vol. 54 Issue 4, p228-247, 20p, 6 Charts, 7 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Happiness economics theorizes that economic growth is only tenuously connected to happiness. This article tests this theory on historical evidence by quantifying the trend in emotional well-being (EWB) of British men during the period of rapid industrialization between 1800 and 1900, using a digitized corpus of 19,682 pamphlets published in Britain during this period and held by JSTOR. EWB is measured between these years using a sentiment analysis method of quantifying the frequency over time of a set of positive-valence ("happy") word groups relative to negative-valence ("sad") word groups in the corpus, finding that it remains trendless throughout. This method thereby also provides insight into the quality of life of men during the Industrial Revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01615440
- Volume :
- 54
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Historical Methods
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 153816112
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01615440.2021.1952915