The Unjournal · Pivotal Questions Initiative

Wellbeing Measures: Research & Policy Discussion

An Unjournal Online Workshop on WELLBY Measurement, Scale-Use Heterogeneity, and DALY–WELLBY Interconvertibility

Confirmed: Monday, March 16, 2026 · 11am–4pm ET / 3pm–8pm UK · Fully online · ~3.5 hours of live sessions (join only the segments you're interested in) + asynchronous participation options
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Following our evaluation of Benjamin et al.'s "Adjusting for Scale-Use Heterogeneity in Self-Reported Well-Being," this workshop explores implications for the WELLBY measure and DALY–WELLBY interconvertibility — questions raised by Founders Pledge that affect how we compare interventions across health, mental health, and consumption.

1

About You

Access note

Zoom link will be sent to registered participants before the workshop. If you haven't received it by March 14, please email contact@unjournal.org.

2

Your Attendance Plans

Workshop confirmed: Monday, March 16, 2026

11am–4pm ET / 3pm–8pm UK · Drop in for any segments

Let us know which parts of the workshop you're planning to join, or if you'd prefer asynchronous participation. If the confirmed time doesn't work for you, mention alternative times for a possible follow-up session.

3

Which Potential Segments Interest You?

All fields in this section are optional. You don't need to attend the full session — indicate your interest in passive or active participation for each segment. Click ☆ to cycle through priority levels: ★ (interested) or ★★ (high priority). (more about each segment) · View Live Sessions page →

Stakeholder Problem Statement & PQ Intro (~35 min): Representatives from Coefficient Giving and Founders Pledge (~10 min each) explain their challenges weighing WELLBYs vs DALYs, followed by introduction to Pivotal Questions (~5 min) and agenda discussion (~5 min).
Paper Presentation: Benjamin et al. (~25 min): The research team presents their findings on scale-use heterogeneity in self-reported wellbeing—how people use satisfaction scales differently, and what calibration methods can do about it.
Evaluator Responses & Discussion (~25 min): Our independent evaluators share their assessment of the paper's methodology and findings, followed by author responses and open discussion.
WELLBY Reliability Discussion (~25 min): Focused discussion on whether the linear WELLBY is reliable enough for comparing interventions. Covers cardinality assumptions, neutral points, and measurement challenges.
DALY/QALY↔WELLBY Conversion (~25 min): How should we translate between health measures (DALYs, QALYs) and subjective wellbeing (WELLBYs)? Examines current approaches and what's missing.
Beliefs Elicitation (~15 min): A guided exercise where participants state their probabilities on key operationalized questions (WELL_01, DALY_01, etc.), capturing expert views before and after discussion.
Practitioner Panel & Open Discussion (~30 min): Funders and researchers discuss practical implications—what should organizations do now, and what research would change minds?
Stakeholder Problem Statement
How funders currently navigate WELLBY vs DALY (~15 min)
Paper Presentation: Benjamin et al.
Scale-use heterogeneity findings & implications (~25 min)
Evaluator Responses & Discussion
Key critiques, suggestions, author reaction (~25 min)
WELLBY Reliability: Discussion
Is the linear WELLBY reliable enough for cross-intervention comparison? (~25 min)
DALY/QALY↔WELLBY Conversion: Discussion
Approaches to interconvertibility — what works, what's missing? (~25 min)
Beliefs Elicitation
We'll guide you through a short form to state your priors on operationalized pivotal questions (~15 min)
Practitioner Panel & Open Discussion
How should funders navigate this now? What research would change minds? (~30 min)
4

Recording & Publication

We hope to record the workshop, provide transcripts, and share discussion materials publicly — adjusting this based on participant preferences and recommendations. Please indicate your preferences:

5

Async Discussion & Suggestions

All fields in this section are optional.

6

Questions & Claims

What questions or claims would you most like to see discussed or debated at this workshop — in addition to (or adjusting) the specific Pivotal Questions we've already formulated?

Your responses help us find the best date and structure for everyone.

Other Planned Workshops

The Unjournal is organizing several Pivotal Questions workshops in 2026: