The Impact of a Positive Psychology Course on Students' Lives

Abstract

Positive Psychology, focusing on character strengths and virtues, meaning in life, and transcendence, encourages students to reflect on their lives. The course frequently uses questionnaires and assigned activities to promote reflection and resilience. While mandated by many universities, course assessment in higher education is typically characterized by quantitative reductionism, which may not capture students' experiential learning. A phenomenological perspective on assessment is particularly valuable since it can highlight the experiential impact of a course not captured by conventional learning outcomes. This chapter, co-authored with students, illustrates the value of collaborative inquiry, resulting in qualitative findings depicting which elements of a Positive Psychology course were particularly meaningful and how students' perspectives and prior assumptions were challenged.