THE eyes of the world will once again be on Bolton as the search for the secret of happiness continues.

The University of Bolton and The Bolton News is again asking people of the borough what makes them happy as it replicates the second part of a social experiment carried out in the town in 1938.

This time academics are asking people to write in their thoughts on happiness just as people did more than 70 years after answering an advert in the Bolton Evening News in a study inspired by the mass observation project, which was taking place at the same time.

Psychology Professor Jerome Carson with researcher Sandie McHugh recreated the survey to find out what makes people happy in 2014

Readers were asked to help compile a happiness index by rating the importance of ten factors ranging from beauty to more security and religion.

Hundreds of people took part in the survey and the results attracted international attention

The results showed that in 1938 security, knowledge and religion were seen by participants as being the three most important aspects of happiness.

In 2014 security was still in the top three, but good humour and leisure were in first and second places.

Religion, which was seen as the third most important factor in 1938, had fallen to tenth (and bottom) place.

Prof Carson said: "The world was looking at Bolton.

"The study was featured in Time Magazine and can be read on line.

"In the national and international news."

Now they two are replicating the second part of the social study by asking people to write about what makes them happy.

Ms McHugh said: "We want people to tell us in their own words what they think happiness is.

"Answers do not have to be long, in 1938 some people wrote quite short letters, some were 87 words."

She added: "The study is so important as it affects everyone and knowledge about key to happiness can help people enhance the quality of their life and wellbeing.

The responses from The Bolton News readers will be compared with the 1938 letters.

"Will the people of Bolton define happiness the same in 2016 as they did in 1938?

"What are the differences? What is similar?

"The Bolton findings will be reported by The Bolton News, presented at conference and provide the basis for published paper.

"They will also be available on the internet."

Prof Carson added: "The letters from 1938 are voices from the past and what we are looking for now is a set of new data which will be analysed."

It is hoped the findings will be again presented at The British Psychology Society Conference, where the first part of the study was celebrated last year and gained international attention.

CONTENTMENT and peace of mind was the key to happiness in 1938, according to the analysis of letters sent in at that time.

Ms McHugh said that those two concepts were the once mentioned over and over again in the letters.

Molly Hamet, of Haigh Street, Bolton wrote at the age of 19-years-old old in 1938: "To be perfectly happy you must first of all know peace of mind.

"If your conscience is always clear you have nothing to be afraid of."

A. Collbourn of Bradford Road, Harper Green wrote: "I should say happiness is a contented mind; a mind free form care and worry.

"I work in the cardroom of a local mill and if I could be sure of working full-time, for say the next tens years, I should be supremely happy.

"It would mean security and a contented mind."

Family, home life and giving to others was the second most frequently used term followed by good health, friends and work; religion and finally leisure time.

Mary Lavin of Parkfield Road, Great Lever, wrote: "So strange a thing is happiness that we seldom find it by looking for it, and yet it is the most sought after thing in the world.

"Many try to find it by making money and yet the more they make the more greedy they become because a greedy soul is never full.

"Other people try pleasure but find the senses are never satisfied. Happiness is a thing of the spirit and I think the happiest people are those who have the capacity for enjoying the things they possess whether they are few or many.

"If they can use their eyes to see the beauty around them, use their hands in work, take pleasure in the company of friends.

"All these are simple things.

"But I think they make people happy."

Your happy thoughts can win prizes

IN 1938 the residents of Bolton gave their views on what happinesses meant to the meant to them personally.
What do Bolton residents in 2016 think? What are your views on what happiness means to you and yours?
The Bolton News and the University of Bolton would like to have your comments.
The best letter will win a pass for a family for four to Hollywood Bowl, Middlebrook, and a meal for a family of four including four drinks at Coast2Coast at Middlebrook.
Email your thoughts on happiness, 50 to 500 words to schaudhari@theboltonnews.co.uk, or send them by post to Happiness, The Bolton News, The Wellsprings, Civic Centre, Bolton, BL1 1AR. The winner will be decided by the university’s Professor of Wellbeing John Haworth.
You might have special memories that make you happy to recall, if so, tell us about them. Please also state whether you are male or female (or would prefer not to say), your age and whether you are employed/self-employed, seeking employment, full-time student, carer or retired. The closing date is Monday, September 12.