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Measuring urban social sustainability: Scale development and validation

Author

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  • Taimaz Larimian

    (5156Loughborough University, UK)

  • Arash Sadeghi

    (1722Aston University, UK)

Abstract

Despite the significant role of social sustainability in the sustainable development agenda, there is a lack of research to clearly define and fully operationalise the concept of urban social sustainability. The aim of this study is to contribute to the existing literature by developing a comprehensive measurement scale to assess urban social sustainability at the neighbourhood level. We argue that urban social sustainability is a multidimensional concept that incorporates six main dimensions of social interaction, sense of place, social participation, safety, social equity and neighbourhood satisfaction. Failure to consider each of these dimensions may lead to an incomplete picture of social sustainability. Validity, reliability and dimensionality of the urban social sustainability scale are examined using factor analysis. We also illustrate the application of the urban social sustainability scale by investigating the influence of quality of design, as one of the least studied factors of urban form, on different dimensions of social sustainability. The paper uses data collected from the household questionnaire survey in a sample of 251 respondents from five case study neighbourhoods of Dunedin city, New Zealand. This study provides new evidence on the significance of improving neighbourhood quality of design and its positive and significant relationship with different dimensions of social sustainability and the overall social sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Taimaz Larimian & Arash Sadeghi, 2021. "Measuring urban social sustainability: Scale development and validation," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(4), pages 621-637, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:48:y:2021:i:4:p:621-637
    DOI: 10.1177/2399808319882950
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali & Aldrin Abdullah & Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki & Mina Safizadeh, 2021. "Moving the 2030 Agenda Ahead: Exploring the Role of Multiple Mediators toward Perceived Environment and Social Sustainability in Residential Neighbourhoods," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Seyda Akcali & Arzu Cahantimur, 2022. "The Pentagon Model of Urban Social Sustainability: An Assessment of Sociospatial Aspects, Comparing Two Neighborhoods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    3. R. Rajesh, 2023. "Grey Markov Models for Predicting the Social Sustainability Performances of Firms," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 297-351, August.
    4. Nagalingam Nagendrakumar & Kalubowilage Navodya Nilupulee Alwis & Udage Arachchige Kaveesha Eshani & Seekku Baduge Ushani Kaushalya, 2022. "The Impact of Sustainability Practices on the Going Concern of the Travel and Tourism Industry: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Dorota Mantey, 2021. "Objective and Subjective Determinants of Neighborhood Satisfaction in the Context of Retrofitting Suburbs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Hongjik Kim & Chihiro Shimizu, 2022. "The Relationship between Geographic Accessibility to Neighborhood Facilities, Remote Work, and Changes in Neighborhood Satisfaction after the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.

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