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Selecting a Contextualized Set of Urban Quality of Life Indicators: Results of a Delphi Consensus Procedure

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  • Jamal Al-Qawasmi

    (Architecture Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Although indicators are commonly used to measure/assess urban quality of life (QOL), there is no consensus in the literature on the core indicators of urban QOL. This paper aims to identify a set of key indicators that will be used to assess/measure urban QOL in the Saudi Arabia (SA) context. For this purpose, a three-round online Delphi procedure is used. A group of 92 local experts were asked to rate the importance of a set of pre-defined indicators in assessing/measuring urban QOL. The results reveal that the panel of experts reached consensus and agreed on the high importance of 53 indicators for assessing/measuring urban QOL. These indicators provide appropriate coverage of the three core dimensions of urban QOL: environmental, social and economic. However, the results also show that the social indicators are perceived as more essential than economic and environmental indicators. This finding has practical implications for designing and developing QOL assessment tools to better capture and measure urban QOL in the SA context. Furthermore, research findings also identified some methodological limitations associated with using the Delphi approach, which need to be addressed to ensure the development of comprehensive QOL assessment tools.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamal Al-Qawasmi, 2021. "Selecting a Contextualized Set of Urban Quality of Life Indicators: Results of a Delphi Consensus Procedure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4945-:d:545303
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jamal Al-Qawasmi, 2020. "Measuring Quality of Life in Urban Areas: Toward an Integrated Approach," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 25(2), pages 67-74, July.
    2. Sajida Perveen & Md. Kamruzzaman & Tan Yigitcanlar, 2017. "Developing Policy Scenarios for Sustainable Urban Growth Management: A Delphi Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-27, October.
    3. repec:cdl:uctcwp:qt2pg9m5rm is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Timo von Wirth & Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Michael Stauffacher, 2015. "Mediating Effects Between Objective and Subjective Indicators of Urban Quality of Life: Testing Specific Models for Safety and Access," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 189-210, May.
    5. Michael Hagerty & Robert Cummins & Abbott Ferriss & Kenneth Land & Alex Michalos & Mark Peterson & Andrew Sharpe & Joseph Sirgy & Joachim Vogel, 2001. "Quality of Life Indexes for National Policy: Review and Agenda for Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 1-96, July.
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