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Consulting with Citizens in the Design of Wellbeing Measures and Policies: Lessons from a Systems Science Application

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Hogan
  • Helen Johnston
  • Benjamin Broome
  • Claire McMoreland
  • Jane Walsh
  • Bryan Smale
  • Jim Duggan
  • Jerry Andriessen
  • Kevin Leyden
  • Christine Domegan
  • Patricia McHugh
  • Victoria Hogan
  • Owen Harney
  • Jenny Groarke
  • Chris Noone
  • Ann Groarke

Abstract

Internationally, there is increasing interest in, and analysis of, human wellbeing and the economic, social, environmental, and psychological factors that contribute to it. Current thinking suggests that to measure social progress and national wellbeing we need more than GDP. Experts across a range of disciplines have increasingly highlighted a number of key values and domains of measurement that are influencing the way governments in different countries are thinking about wellbeing measures and policies. Most agree that it is important to involve citizen consultation in the design of wellbeing measures and policies. There is no real consensus on how to best do so. There are, however, the warnings of recent case studies that underscore the dangers of failing to consult with citizens adequately. The current paper examines the value of citizen consultations and considers how best to optimize deliberation and co-design by experts, citizens, and politicians using systems science tools that facilitate collective intelligence and collective action. The paper opens with an overview of the international wellbeing movement and highlights key issues in the design and application of wellbeing measures in policy practice. Next, an applied system science methodology, Interactive Management (IM), is described and affordances of IM considered in relation to the challenge of facilitating citizen consultations in relation to wellbeing measurement and policy design. The method can be used to provide insight into the values, goals, and preferences of citizens; engaging all stakeholders in a democratic, consensus building process that facilitates buy-in and enhances the legitimacy of decision-making groups; facilitating transparent understanding of the reasoning that informs the systems thinking of groups. A recent application of our applied system science methodology to the design of a notional national wellbeing index for Ireland is outlined. The paper closes by highlighting the importance of adopting a wider social science toolkit to the challenge of facilitating social progress. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Hogan & Helen Johnston & Benjamin Broome & Claire McMoreland & Jane Walsh & Bryan Smale & Jim Duggan & Jerry Andriessen & Kevin Leyden & Christine Domegan & Patricia McHugh & Victoria Hogan & , 2015. "Consulting with Citizens in the Design of Wellbeing Measures and Policies: Lessons from a Systems Science Application," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 857-877, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:123:y:2015:i:3:p:857-877
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0764-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leyden, K.M., 2003. "Social Capital and the Built Environment: The Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1546-1551.
    2. Easterlin, Richard A., 1974. "Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence," MPRA Paper 111773, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    1. Gemma Simons & David S Baldwin, 2021. "A critical review of the definition of ‘wellbeing’ for doctors and their patients in a post Covid-19 era," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(8), pages 984-991, December.
    2. Morteza RezaeiZadeh & Michael Hogan & John O’Reilly & James Cunningham & Eamonn Murphy, 2017. "Core entrepreneurial competencies and their interdependencies: insights from a study of Irish and Iranian entrepreneurs, university students and academics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 35-73, March.
    3. Hogan, Michael J. & Leyden, Kevin M. & Conway, Ronan & Goldberg, Abraham & Walsh, Deirdre & McKenna-Plumley, Phoebe E., 2016. "Happiness and health across the lifespan in five major cities: The impact of place and government performance," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 168-176.
    4. Michael Hogan & Owen Harney & Mike Moroney & Michelle Hanlon & Su‐Ming Khoo & Tony Hall & Monika Pilch & Bianca Pereira & Eric Van Lente & Victoria Hogan & John O'Reilly & Jenny Groarke & Robert Razza, 2021. "A group dynamics framework for 21st century collective intelligence facilitators," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 572-576, August.
    5. Éva Sztáray Kézdy & Zsófia Drjenovszky, 2021. "Hungarian Stay-at-Home Fathers: A New Alternative for Family Wellbeing," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, May.

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