The second edition of this training book, which comes with a complementary online course, is designed to help community indicator researchers (and those stepping into this position) enhance their professional knowledge of the subject. The book is divided into three major parts: Introduction, Planning, and Implementation. It undertakes two approaches to indicator planning and development: a top-down versus a bottom-up approach. The top-down approach involves understanding the various theoretical approaches that guide indicator selection, such as human development, utilitarianism, opulence, social justice, sustainability, etc. In contrast, many community indicators researchers use a more political process to guide indicator selection. The book refers to this approach as bottom-upa process guided by politics and the interests of the various stakeholders involved in an indicators project. The new edition expands on this approach and incorporates much of the latest research and practice related to data mining, data management, and technical aspects of big data. It also includes adjustments and updates to cases, making this a must-read textbook and guide for anyone interested in enhancing their competence in community indicators research.
Part I: Introduction.- Introduction.- Theoretical Foundations.- An
Example.- Part II: Planning.- Organizing.- Making Decisions about
Indicators.- Part III: Implementation.- Data Collection.- Data Analysis.-
Data Reporting.- Promotion.- Follow Up.- Appendix.
M. Joseph (Joe) Sirgy is a management psychologist (Ph.D., U/Massachusetts, 1979) and the Virginia Tech Real Estate Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (USA) and Extraordinary Professor at the WorkWell Research Unit at North West University Potchefstroom Campus (South Africa). He has published extensively in the area of marketing, business ethics, and quality of life (QOL). His awards include: International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) Distinguished Fellow Award, ISQOLS Distinguished QOL Researcher, Academy of Marketing Sciences (AMS) Distinguished Fellow Award, AMS Harold Berkman Service Award, Virginia Techs Pamplin Teaching Excellence Award/Holtzman Outstanding Educator Award and University Certificate of Teaching Excellence, the EuroMed Management Research Award, and the Macromarketing Societys Robert W. Nason Award. Best paper awards include articles published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, the Journal of Travel Research, and Applied Research in Quality of Life. His editorial responsibilities include co-founding editor of Applied Research in Quality of Life, editor of the QOL section in the Journal of Macromarketing, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Macromarketing, and co-editor of the ISQOLS-Springer book series Human Well-Being Research and Policy Making.
