Abstract
Widespread interest in social indicators—indeed, what may be characterized as a new social movement—has developed among both social scientists and policymakers. The concept of social indicators, however, continues to be diffuse and there are exaggerated claims of the utility of indicators. Deficiencies in both conceptualization and method limit the potential of indicators for such tasks as priority setting and program evaluation. Moreover, the development of social accounts, based on the analogy with economic accounts, is fallacious. Redirection in effort and more realistic claims can reduce the possibility of an eventual decline in work on indicators and enhance the value of the movement for both policymakers and social scientists concerned with the analysis and prediction of social change.
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Sheldon, E.B., Freeman, H.E. Notes on social indicators: Promises and potential. Policy Sci 1, 97–111 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145195
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145195