Piloting the Geographic Information System (GIS) Methodology as an Analytic Tool for Subjective Wellbeing Research

Abstract

This article introduces the Geographic Information System (GIS) methodology to Subjective Wellbeing (SWB) research. The interactive mapping and analysis tools of GIS are combined with SWB to demonstrate an alternative method of data analysis and presentation encompassing spatial context. The SWB of the Victorian population was measured using a representative state wide telephone survey conducted for the wider Community Indicators Victoria project. GIS methodology is used for the presentation and analysis of population SWB collected from 24,000 Victorians and mapped according to 79 Local Government Areas. The advantages of the alternative method of data presentation are discussed and the wellbeing of the state considered within geographical context. Future applications for the use of GIS and SWB are discussed, including diagnostic and outcome measures for government policy and planning.

Spatial nature of urban well-being

“…Spatial factors and SWB Most earlier literature on the spatial nature of SWB has studied the relationship between larger administrative units and their aggregate SWB (Lawless & Lucas, 2011, Oswald & Wu, 2010 or have concentrated on differences between urban and rural areas (Cummins, Eckersley, Pallant, Van Vugt, & Misajon, 2003;Davern & Chen, 2010;Knight & Gunatilaka, 2010;Millward & Spinney, 2013;Shucksmith, Cameron, Merridew, & Pichler, 2009). However, some studies have examined more localized scales.…”

Sustainable Latin American Cities? Evaluation of the Sustainability of the City of Puebla (Mexico) Using Indicators

“…In comparison, Subjective Well-being derives from positive psychology and happiness research and represents an individual's subjective self-evaluation of their life and comprises largely affective (hedonic) and cognitive components including the concept of eudamonia, or sense of purpose (OECD 2013). Subjective Well-being describes an individual's subjective experience of their life (Davern and Chen 2010) and largely represents affective or emotional experiences, tapping into pleasant core effects of contentment, happiness and satisfaction (Davern et al 2007) which remain stable under the control of a homeostatic (balanced) system (Cummins 1995(Cummins , 2013. Some of the major benefits of using Subjective Well-being in research contexts is the simplicity of assessment in fewer than ten questions and the non-confrontational form that these questions have while providing a public health screening assessment of well-being.…”

A boldogság mint az okos városok mérésének új, lehetséges módszere

“…A boldogság vizsgálatába földrajzi tényezőket is beemelő kutatások alapvetően 3 témakör köré csoportosíthatóak. Egyik csoportba azok a kutatások tartoznak, melyek a vidéki és a városi térségek boldogságát hasonlítják össze (Cummins et al 2003, Davern-Chen. 2010, Knight-Gunatilaka 2010, Millward-Spinney 2013, Shucksmith et al 2009.…”