Research & Projects

Introduction

This capstone project explores the pressing need for a standardized framework in Positive Psychology—a field grounded in science and ethical intention, yet often limited by inconsistent methodologies and uneven application. While Positive Psychology has grown rapidly in reach and relevance, the lack of shared standards poses challenges to scalability, credibility, and cultural adaptability.

The idea for this project emerged from my academic and professional journey, where I repeatedly observed how the absence of structured guidelines made it difficult to evaluate, replicate, or responsibly expand Positive Psychology interventions across diverse settings.

Objectives

The primary objective of this capstone was to propose a standardized framework for Positive Psychology practice by adapting core principles from the ISO 9001 Quality Management System. ISO 9001 has long been used to improve consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across industries—and I set out to explore its relevance in advancing the practice of Positive Psychology.

Specifically, I aimed to address the following challenges:

• Inconsistent training and practitioner standards

• Undefined ethical boundaries

• Difficulty measuring effectiveness across cultural contexts

By conducting a thematic analysis of expert interviews, I identified the foundational elements necessary to build a framework that is scalable, globally relevant, ethically grounded, and adaptable to context.

Findings

My research revealed six key themes essential to standardizing Positive Psychology:

1. Cultural Considerations

2. Ethical Foundations

3. Scientific and Educational Consistency

4. Implementation & Practicality

5. Global Collaboration

6. Continuous Improvement

The proposed adaptation of ISO 9001 principles—such as evidence-based decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle—offers promising pathways to align Positive Psychology with professional standards seen in coaching, healthcare, and education.

Outcomes

Key outcomes of the project include:

• A proposed framework that balances structural integrity with cultural adaptability

• Identification of core ethical considerations and the potential for accreditation models

• Broad expert support for using ISO-style systems to promote quality, accountability, and global relevance

An unexpected yet powerful insight was the potential for Positive Psychology to further professionalize as a global discipline, aligning with other established fields—such as coaching, healthcare, and education—through the use of shared quality standards.

Conclusion

Ultimately, this work aims to support the field’s evolution—from individually excellent practices to a more cohesive, credible, and scalable framework. It lays the groundwork for organizations like IPPA to explore standardization efforts that preserve scientific rigor while expanding cultural reach and ethical application.