The "Quality of Life" and Social Indicators Research

One of the fastest growing areas of policyrelated research has concerned the development of as accurate measures of the well-being of society and of its citizens. Since by their very nature social indicators can theoretically satisfy the desires of scholars for more scientifically valid descriptions of society as well as the needs of policy makers for more and better information to guide program decisions, the resulting social indicators movement has excited much attention and enthusiasm in both academia and in government. However, despite high expectations, contemporary social indicators research has to a large measure failed to fulfill its early promise. Ironically, the current failure of social indicators research results largely from the very same dual nature that initially led to its enthusiastic reception.