Measuring wellbeing: a critical analysis of eight metrics
LE3 .A278 2019
2019
Colton, John
Acadia University
Bachelor of Arts
Honours
Environmental & Sustainability Studies
This research is an examination into the question of how “wellbeing” manifests in a community, large or small, and how to manage or measure changes in wellbeing. Many policies or developments consider the financial costs and benefits of intervention, but often less research is invested into assessing the social or environmental impacts of such interventions. This imbalance appears to be due in part to the comparative lack of understanding of social or environmental systems. This thesis critically analyses eight different metrics which aim to measure or promote wellbeing and uses this insight to form recommendations for the development of future wellbeing measurement tools. This assessment can be divided into three primary components: a presentation of metrics, a comparative analysis, and a discussion.The first chapter examines eight popular wellbeing tools for their purpose, process, and application . The second chapter explores these metrics more closely through eight variables of comparison, ranging from the scale to the delivery of findings. Finally, common factors are analyzed and discussed to provide recommendations for creating an efficient and effective wellbeing metric. Three core findings are discussed in this final chapter: empowerment, affordability, and utility. The most accurate metrics involve a variety of stakeholder groups, though the method of collaboration varies. Additionally, in the pursuit of comprehensiveness, metrics sometimes grow to become too expensive or complicated for certain (particular ly low-income) communities to utilise. These and other considerations are discussed as recommendations for those developing wellbeing metrics in the future.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3287
