Theoretical Perspectives Guiding QOL Indicator Projects

• Published in: Social indicators research Vol. 103; no. 1; pp. 1 - 22
• Main Author: Sirgy, M. Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Classification; Communities; Community life; Community Relations; Consumption; Cost of living; Cultural Differences; Cultures and civilizations; Ecological sustainability; Economic Development; Economic indicators; Employment; Family income; GDP; Gross Domestic Product; History, theory and methodology; Households; Housing starts; Human Geography; Life expectancy; Lifestyles. Everyday life; Living Standards; Measurement; Methodology; Microeconomics; Mortality; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Public Health; Public policy; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Quality standards; Recreation; Researchers; Retirement communities; Social capital; Social change; Social Development; Social Indicators; Social progress; Social research; Social Sciences; Sociology; Standard of living; Studies; Sustainability; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable communities; Sustainable Development; Unemployment; Well Being; Wellbeing; Measurement of quality of life (QOL); QOL theory; QOL constructs and measures; Measurement of well-being; Indicators projects; Social Justice; Paradigm; Socioeconomic development; Theory; Quality of Life; Taxinomy; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 0303-8300; 1573-0921
• DOI: 10.1007/s11205-010-9692-6

Most of the theoretically based QOL indicators projects can be classified in terms of six major theoretical concepts: (a) socio-economic development (b) personal utility, (c) just society, (d) human development, (e) sustainability, and (f) functioning. I explain the core aspects of these six theoretical paradigms and show how they help guide QOL researchers to select and develop QOL indicators that are significantly and qualitatively distinct. A taxonomy of QOL indicators guided by a given theoretical concept is likely to be very different from others taxonomies guided by different theoretical concepts. Thus, the objective of this paper to explain these theoretical paradigms and show how they guide QOL researchers to select and develop QOL indicators that are significantly and qualitatively distinct.