Showing papers in "Social Indicators Research in 1974"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the current status of a series of studies oriented toward the assessment of perceived life quality and propose a conceptual model that a person's overall sense of life quality is understandable as a combination of affective responses to life "domains" which are of two types: role situations and values.
Abstract: This report presents the current status of a series of studies oriented toward the assessment of perceived life quality. The conceptual model proposes that a person’s overall sense of life quality is understandable as a combination of affective responses to life ‘domains’, which are of two types — role situations and values. Over 100 items used to measure a wide variety of domains and 28 items assessing perceived overall life quality are presented. Various subsets of these items were used in interviews with several representative samples of American adults. Based on these data the domain items were grouped into a smaller number of semi-independent clusters which were internally stable across 10 different subgroups of the respondents and whose interrelationships were highly replicable in independent national samples. A series of analyses, some replicated in more than one survey showed: (1) an additive combination of 12 selected domains explained 50–60 % of the variance in an index of overall life quality, (2) neither other domains nor several social characteristic variables contributed additional explanatory power, (3) this level of explanation was achieved in each of 22 subgroups of the population, and (4) additive combinations of domains worked as well as more complicated combinations.
356 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors pointed out that none of these presumed weaknesses is sufficient to invalidate the development and use of perceptual indicators and suggested methodological research needed to support the development of indicators of perceived well-being.
Abstract: Modern societies in both developing and developed countries have real and legitimate concerns about the enhancement, maintenance, and redistribution of individual well-being Indicators of perceived well-being provide direct measures of what societies are trying to achieve, permit cross-sector comparisons, can indicate the adequacy of coverage of ‘objective’ indicators, and can contribute to social policy making in both the long and short run Some commentators, however, have suggested perceptual indicators suffer from methodological weaknesses associated with their validity, interpretability, completeness, and utility Each of these possible weaknesses is addressed in some detail New research evidence and certain philosophical perspectives are presented, and it is concluded that none of these presumed weaknesses is sufficient to invalidate the development and use of perceptual indicators Suggestions are made concerning methodological research needed to support the development of indicators of perceived well-being It is noted that the materials and results developed in the author's research on Americans' perceptions of life quality may be useful for suggesting approaches to the development of indicators of perceived life quality relevant to other cultures
184 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it is suggested that the quality of employment should be assessed from the value perspectives of the employer and of society as well as the perspective of the worker, and the implications of this conception for the utility of satisfaction measures as social indicators are examined as to three aspects: (1) the psychology of job satisfaction; (2) the sociology of job Satisfaction; (3) the approach and technology of using subjective satisfaction measures in conjunction with other indicators.
Abstract: It is suggested that the quality of employment should be assessed from the value perspectives of the employer and of society as well as the perspective of the worker. The prevailing conception of the nature of job satisfaction, and the associated measurement methods, provide useful but unnecessarily limited indicators of the quality of employment. An enlarged conception is offered as to the nature of job satisfaction, its causes, and its possible consequences. The implications of this conception for the utility of satisfaction measures as social indicators are examined as to three aspects: (1) The psychology of job satisfaction; (2) The sociology of job satisfaction; (2) The approach and technology of using subjective satisfaction measures in conjunction with other indicators. The view is expressed that direct measures of subjective job satisfaction are an essential component in any effort to make comparisons or monitor changes in the quality of employment, but that such measures, like other subjective and objective indicators, have ambiguous meaning if used alone.
55 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a systematic methodology for assessing social, economic, political, and environmental indicators to reflect the quality of life in the U.S. Based primarily on 1970 data, QOL indexes were generalized and the states were rated.
Abstract: Concern over the ‘quality of life’ in the United States seems to have increased proportionally with technological advancement and growth in material wealth. Growing public interest in social, economic, political and environmental conditions has led to the search for indicators which adequately reflect the overall ‘health’ of the nation and its citizens' well-being. This paper developed a systematic methodology for assessing social, economic, political, and environmental indicators to reflect the quality of life in the U.S. Nine indicators, including Individual Status, Individual Equality, Living Conditions, Agriculture, Technology, Economic Status, Education, Health and Welfare and State and Local Governments were compiled from more than 100 variables for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Based primarily on 1970 data, QOL indexes were generalized and the states were rated. Comparisons among similar studies were made and analyses among indicators were also performed.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a theory, related measures, and series of studies are presented, which proffer a new approach to the study of quality of life, the approach is phenomenological, and quality-of-life evaluation is assumed to be in the eye of the experiencer.
Abstract: A theory, related measures, and series of studies are presented here which proffer a new approach to the study of quality of life The approach is phenomenological The quality of life evaluation is assumed to be in the eye of the experiencer To facilitate the experiencer's communication, a non-verbal technique of measuring the personal meaning of events and environments is employed A series of studies are described which emerge from this framework dealing with alienation; gain or loss of social status; love, marriage, and parenthood; and transitional states Finally new uses of the approach are proposed
47 citations
TL;DR: One of the few efforts to develop an operational set of international social indicators is underway through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as mentioned in this paper, where the authors describe the OECD plan and give some preliminary appraisal of the completed first phase of the work, the definition of the elements of well-being for which specific indicators should be developed.
Abstract: One of the few efforts to develop an operational set of international social indicators is underway through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The paper describes the OECD plan and gives some preliminary appraisal of the completed first phase of the work, the definition of the elements of well-being for which specific indicators of change should be developed. Attention is directed to certain aspects of the overall strategy being pursued by OECD including its careful delimitation of scope to the one type of social indicators (herein termed well-being indicators) for which international agreement now appears possible although very difficult. A possible governmental strategy for development of more comprehensive social indicators in the longer term context is suggested.
29 citations
TL;DR: Current attempts to develop sociomedical health indicators include measures of social disability, typologies of presenting symptoms, which have been used to estimate probable needs for care, and research based on operational definitions of ‘positive mental health’, ‘happiness’ and perceived quality of life.
Abstract: The various forms of mortality data and biomedical measures of morbidity have become inadequate measures of the level of health in economically developed countries. Measures of functional physical capacity have some advantages but do not reflect physical impairment. Current attempts to develop sociomedical health indicators include: measures of social disability; typologies of presenting symptoms, which have been used to estimate probable needs for care; measures which focus on behavioral expressions of sickness; research based on operational definitions of ‘positive mental health’, ‘happiness’ and perceived quality of life; assessments of met and unmet needs for health care, which are measures of social capacity to care for the sick.
25 citations
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a new method of estimating the magnitude of money expenditures parents make on their children, and applied this method to the urban sample of the 1960-1961 U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey to estimate the total money expenditure costs of children to age eighteen.
Abstract: The testing of economic theories of fertility has been hampered by the absence of suitable data on the direct (versus opportunity) costs of children. This study hopes to help remedy this deficiency, first, by proposing a new method of estimating the magnitude of money expenditures parents make on their children. This method is then applied to the urban sample of the 1960–1961 U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey to estimate the total money expenditure costs of children to age eighteen. The distribution of these costs by income level, by birth order, by age of the child, and by components of cost (food, housing, clothing, and so on) is considered. The impact of the number and age of children on family living standards is also explored.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce and appraise several techniques that might be used to reduce information overload resulting from exposure to social or socio-economic reports, and evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to introduce and appraise several techniques that might be used to reduce information overload resulting from exposure to social or socio-economic reports.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors established a quantitative relationship between respiratory mortality rates and the level of air pollution and other socioeconomic variables using a macro-model and found that a hundred per cent increase in air pollution would imply an increase in the respiratory diseases mortality rate by 51-58%.
Abstract: This paper establishes a quantitative relationship between respiratory mortality rates and the level of air pollution and other socio-economic variables using a macro-model. With the help of regression analysis it is observed that a hundred per cent increase in the air pollution would imply an increase in the respiratory diseases mortality rate by 51–58%. A reduction of about fifty per cent in the air pollution would imply a social savings of the order of about $1.9–$2.17 billion per year in terms of respiratory diseases alone.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a framework for developing social indicators (SI) for social planning, which can provide the informational basis for formulating policies, preparing social plans and evaluating the impact of government activities, and are used as a basis for suggesting some practical possibilities of developing SI and social planning in Israel and elsewhere.
Abstract: Social planning (SP) is viewed as an organizing framework for guiding government intervention in social life. Social indicators (SI) can provide the informational basis for formulating policies, preparing social plans and evaluating the impact of government activities. Both SP and SI are only two links in a desired sequence of organized social action. But given the present state of the art, the urgency of social problems and the opportunity cost of waiting for further theoretical development-initial efforts should be directed at developing SI for SP. Israel's experience is presented as an example of:
These examples are used as a basis for suggesting some practical possibilities of developing SI and SP in Israel and elsewhere.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define educational indicators as statistical time series that reflect the state of some element of the educational system and show that most turning points in educational indicators are not cyclical, but respond to major societal events.
Abstract: Educational indicators are statistical time series that reflect the state of some element of the educational system. Most turning points in educational indicators are not cyclical, but respond to major societal events.
TL;DR: The attention now being given in the social sciences to time series indicators that measure the "Social Health" of the nation is a most welcome development as mentioned in this paper. But too often, sweeping claims of social change have very little hard supporting evidence.
Abstract: The attention now being given in the social sciences to time series indicators that measure the ‘Social Health’ of the nation is a most welcome development. Too often, sweeping claims of social change have very little hard supporting evidence. The new trend indicators offer the opportunity for more rigorous analysis of diverse subjects than is often employed in the ‘soft sciences’.
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed analysis of the primary elements that interrelate to produce possible levels of welfare are examined, and it can be concluded that several policy measure can redress the balance of power between consumers, business and government, however there is an urgent need for action by the consumers themselves.
Abstract: This paper evaluates the allocation, coordination, priority assignments and new directions in the research efforts towards a consumer policy. The formulation of a consumer policy is an essential component of a quality-of-life policy. It is shown how interdisciplinary efforts could foster this endeavor. The consumer welfare should be central to the political economy system. Thus a detailed analysis of the primary elements that interrelate to produce possible levels of welfare are examined. In depth consideration of the following five points consitute the bulk of the paper: (i) consumer choice and freedom, (ii) controls available to consumers over their environment, (iii) the demographic characteristics of consumer populations over the life-cycle, (iv) the interaction between the individual and the group emerging from the hierarchies of influence at the individual, group and society levels, (v) structure of the markets, degree of concentration and business practices related to sales. As a result of this analysis it can be concluded that several policy measure can redress the balance of power between consumers, business and government, however there is an urgent need for action by the consumers themselves. The initiative for effective social action in consumerism rests in the last resort with the consumers themselves. They can and do form coalitions which can be effective in influencing the course of events.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess the ability of different variables to predict and explain public concern for law and order and willingness to do something about crime in the United States, using a random sample of heads-of-households in the State of Washington during the summer of 1970.
Abstract: Within the last decade concern for law and order has become a major domestic issue. Presidential candidates have campaigned on the issue. Opinion polls have charted the growing public concern. Crime statistics have reported startling growth in the number of serious crimes committed in the United States. This paper attempts to assess the ability of different variables to predict and explain this high concern. Two aspects of concern will be discussed: (1) awareness of and (2) willingness to do something about crime. Theoretically little is known about how awareness for a social problem can be translated into forms of action to deal with the perceived problem. Methodologically, a technique is needed for assessing the relative importance of different variables related to the problem area. Path analysis is discussed as a possible technique. The data was collected through a random sample of heads-of-households in the State of Washington during the summer of 1970 (N=3101; response rate=75%).
TL;DR: A deep schism exists within the social sciences between the marginal-positivist, who feel meaningful change can be made through marginal steps in our social systems, and the revolutionary, who feels fundamental alterations are needed before our systems will work for the betterment of mankind as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A deep schism exists within the social sciences between the ‘Marginal-Positivist’, who feels meaningful change can be made through marginal steps in our social systems, and the ‘Revolutionary’, who feels fundamental alterations are needed before our systems will work for the betterment of mankind. This essay asks whether social indicators are compatible with the methodologies of each group, and if so, whether they offer a new possibility for a fruitful dialogue.
TL;DR: The VOC is an indicator of participation within the association as mentioned in this paper, and it is used to evaluate the VOC consistently elaborates the PE index and offers specific advantages in application as well.
Abstract: The search for religious indicators of change narrows to focus upon the individual congregation. The Viability of Congregation (VOC) is an indicator of participation within the association. This indicator finds equal applicability to denominational churches as well as cults and sects. The VOC contains no built-in value bias and is simplified to the degree that laymen may apply and evaluate it. This indicator was tested in three congregations where Shippey's construct of Perceived Effectiveness had also been applied. The VOC consistently elaborates the PE index and offers specific advantages in application as well.
TL;DR: How much a state's Maternal and Child Health Services grant was increased or decreased had no systematic overal impact on later changes in that state's infant, neonatal, and fetal mortality indicators.
Abstract: Federal grants-in-aid have been a major device for stimulating new programs for improving the quality of life in the United States. This paper assesses the impact of one such grant-in-aid (Maternal and Child Health Services) on improvements in infant health in the American states in the 1950–1964 period. The analysis indicates that how much a state's Maternal and Child Health Services grant was increased or decreased had no systematic overal impact on later changes in that state's infant, neonatal, and fetal mortality indicators. In addition, such grant changes had no major systematic impact when controlling for per capita income, changes in per capita income, population, innovation tendencies, and administrative professionalism.