IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/soinre/v175y2024i1d10.1007_s11205-024-03430-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What is Beyond Measurement for Social Cohesion?

Author

Listed:
  • Tricia Qian Hui Tok

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Orlando Woods

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Lily Kong

    (Singapore Management University)

Abstract

“What gets measured gets managed” has long been a mantra to rally improvement throughout various domains of life. Perhaps this is also the case for existing work on social cohesion, whereby much of its conceptual and operational elements have received interest in both academic and policy research aiming for practical improvement with regard to the cohesiveness of communities and societies. We contend, however, that not everything that matters for social cohesion may be measurable, and not everything that has been measured for social cohesion may matter. This is not to suggest that not measuring any indicators is better than measuring them, but to caution that existing measures of social cohesion, as well-developed as they may currently be, might still be lacking in their ability to accurately assess the state of social cohesion in a given society. This paper sets out to question when and why measurements may fail. It seeks to critique current indicators of social cohesion by recognising what and who are missing from existing measures. To this end, we also call for discussion of alternative approaches to measuring social cohesion for areas where data is restricted or not easily accessible.

Suggested Citation

  • Tricia Qian Hui Tok & Orlando Woods & Lily Kong, 2024. "What is Beyond Measurement for Social Cohesion?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 109-127, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:175:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03430-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03430-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11205-024-03430-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11205-024-03430-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leininger, Julia & Burchi, Francesco & Fiedler, Charlotte & Mross, Karina & Nowack, Daniel & von Schiller, Armin & Sommer, Christoph & Strupat, Christoph & Ziaja, Sebastian, 2021. "Social cohesion: A new definition and a proposal for its measurement in Africa," IDOS Discussion Papers 31/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    2. Joseph Chan & Ho-Pong To & Elaine Chan, 2006. "Reconsidering Social Cohesion: Developing a Definition and Analytical Framework for Empirical Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 273-302, January.
    3. Arnim Langer & Frances Stewart & Kristien Smedts & Leila Demarest, 2017. "Conceptualising and Measuring Social Cohesion in Africa: Towards a Perceptions-Based Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 321-343, March.
    4. Hidalgo, B. & Goodman, M., 2013. "Multivariate or multivariable regression?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(1), pages 39-40.
    5. Chau-kiu Cheung & Raymond Chan & Wing-chung Ho, 2014. "Feeling Close to Fellow Citizens in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 25-48, October.
    6. Green, Andy & Janmaat, Germ & Cheng, Helen, 2011. "Social Cohesion: Converging and Diverging Trends," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 215, pages 6-22, January.
    7. Regina Berger-Schmitt, 2002. "Considering Social Cohesion in Quality of Life Assessments: Concept and Measurement," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 403-428, June.
    8. Justine Burns & Kate Lefko-Everett & Lindokuhle Njozela, 2018. "From definition to measurement: constructing a social cohesion index for South Africa," SALDRU Working Papers 217, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    9. Bujar Aruqaj, 2023. "An Integrated Approach to the Conceptualisation and Measurement of Social Cohesion," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 227-263, August.
    10. Gianmaria Bottoni, 2018. "A Multilevel Measurement Model of Social Cohesion," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 835-857, April.
    11. Justine BURNS & Kate LEFCO-EVERETT & Lindokuhle NJOZELA, 2018. "From definition to measurement: Constructing a social cohesion index for South Africa," Working Paper c3e083e6-f8ca-4167-b64e-2, Agence française de développement.
    12. David Schiefer & Jolanda Noll, 2017. "The Essentials of Social Cohesion: A Literature Review," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 579-603, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marek Walesiak & Grażyna Dehnel, 2023. "A Measurement of Social Cohesion in Poland’s NUTS2 Regions in the Period 2010–2019 by Applying Dynamic Relative Taxonomy to Interval-Valued Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Marek Walesiak & Grażyna Dehnel, 2020. "The Measurement of Social Cohesion at Province Level in Poland Using Metric and Interval-Valued Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Francesco Burchi & Federico Roscioli, 2022. "Can Integrated Social Protection Programmes Affect Social Cohesion? Mixed-Methods Evidence from Malawi," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1240-1263, June.
    4. Fiedler, Charlotte & Mross, Karina & Berg, Anna & Bhattarai, Prakash & Drees, Dorothea & Kornprobst, Tim & Leibbrandt, Alexandra & Liegmann, Philipp & Riebsamen, Maleen, 2022. "What role do local elections play for societal peace in Nepal? Evidence from post-conflict Nepal," IDOS Discussion Papers 4/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    5. Leininger, Julia & Burchi, Francesco & Fiedler, Charlotte & Mross, Karina & Nowack, Daniel & von Schiller, Armin & Sommer, Christoph & Strupat, Christoph & Ziaja, Sebastian, 2021. "Social cohesion: A new definition and a proposal for its measurement in Africa," IDOS Discussion Papers 31/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    6. Yabibal M. Walle, 2023. "Social Cohesion and Firms’ Access to Finance in Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 27-46, June.
    7. Strupat, Christoph, 2021. "The preserving effect of social protection on social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," IDOS Discussion Papers 33/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    8. Walle, Yabibal Mulualem, 2022. "Determinants of social cohesion: Cross-country evidence," IDOS Discussion Papers 18/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    9. Ollendorf, Franziska & Sieber, Stefan & Löhr, Katharina, 2023. "Societal dynamics of sustainability certification in Ghanaian cocoa producing communities: Assessing social cohesion effects and their implications for collective action," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 47(2), pages 212-238.
    10. Bujar Aruqaj, 2023. "An Integrated Approach to the Conceptualisation and Measurement of Social Cohesion," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 227-263, August.
    11. Francesco Burchi & Markus Loewe & Daniele Malerba & Julia Leininger, 2022. "Disentangling the Relationship Between Social Protection and Social Cohesion: Introduction to the Special Issue," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1195-1215, June.
    12. Löhr, Katharina & Aruqaj, Bujar & Baumert, Daniel & Bonatti, Michelle & Brüntrup, Michael & Bunn, Christian & Castro-Nunez, Augusto & Chavez-Miguel, Giovanna & Del Rio, Martha Lilia & Hachmann, Samyra, 2021. "Social cohesion as the missing link between natural resource management and peacebuilding: Lessons from cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire and Colombia," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(23).
    13. Christoph Strupat, 2022. "Social Protection and Social Cohesion in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1320-1357, June.
    14. Tromben, Varinia & Maldonado Valera, Carlos & Marinho, María Luisa & Robles, Claudia, 2022. "Social cohesion and inclusive social development in Latin America: A proposal for an era of uncertainties," Documentos de Proyectos 47884, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    15. Gislain Stéphane GANDJON FANKEM & Dieudonné TAKA & Sévérin TAMWO, 2023. "The effects of new skills acquired abroad by return migrants on social relations and quality of life in Cameroon," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 58, pages 21-49.
    16. Sarita Silveira & Martin Hecht & Hannah Matthaeus & Mazda Adli & Manuel C. Voelkle & Tania Singer, 2022. "Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceived Changes in Psychological Vulnerability, Resilience and Social Cohesion before, during and after Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-30, March.
    17. Francesco Burchi & Armin von Schiller & Christoph Strupat, 2020. "Social protection and revenue collection: How they can jointly contribute to strengthening social cohesion," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 73(3), pages 13-32, July.
    18. Anna Busłowska & Jacek Marcinkiewicz, 2023. "Social Cohesion of Functional Urban Areas (Example of Eastern Poland)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 451-473, June.
    19. Rico Neumann & Barbara Pfetsch & Swen Hutter & Simon Koschut & David Schieferdecker & Jule Specht, 2023. "The Rhetoric of Solidarity: Nature and Measurement of Social Cohesion in the Self-representation of Civil Society Organizations," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 863-882, October.
    20. María Luisa Méndez & Gabriel Otero & Felipe Link & Ernesto López Morales & Modesto Gayo, 2021. "Neighbourhood cohesion as a form of privilege," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(8), pages 1691-1711, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:175:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03430-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.