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“Subjective” and “Objective” Views of Neighborhood Danger & Well-Being: The Importance of Multiple Perspectives and Mixed Methods

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Abstract

Well-being can be conceptualized and measured in a number of ways and at multiple ecological and ecocultural levels. At the neighborhood or community level, indices of well-being can be constructed using administrative data such as census measures as well as by considering the views of neighborhood residents, both children and adults. In this paper we investigate the congruence, or lack thereof, across aggregated administrative data, children’s views, and parents’ views of neighborhood well-being specifically related to violence and disorder. We argue for obtaining multiple viewpoints to best discern the processes and pathways that link neighborhood conditions with measures of well-being.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation (blinded). We are grateful to the families who agreed to participate in the study.

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Correspondence to James C. Spilsbury.

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This study was supported by a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation (Korbin). No real or potential conflicts of interests are associated with this work.

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Spilsbury, J.C., Korbin, J.E. & Coulton, C.J. “Subjective” and “Objective” Views of Neighborhood Danger & Well-Being: The Importance of Multiple Perspectives and Mixed Methods. Child Ind Res 5, 469–482 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-012-9165-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-012-9165-3

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