Abstract
The paper examines and critiques Schneider's work that related the subjective and objective indicators of quality of life in American cities. The work then employs data collected by Liu in 1973, and the Institute for Survey Research in 1972 as part of their national election study for 41 large and medium-sized Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) to re-examine the question of the relationship between the objective and subjective factors. Although the results of this paper are in general comparable with those obtained by Schneider, there are individual cases where they differ. The paper then concludes with a discussion of the reasons why objective and subjective indicators may coincide.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Andrews, F., Morgan, J., Sonquist, J. and Klem, L.: 1973, Multiple Classification Analysis (Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbon, Michigan).
Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., and Rogers, W. L.: 1976, The Quality of American Life (Russell Sage, New York).
Finifter, A. W., and Abramson, P. R.: 1975, ‘City size and feelings of political competence’, Public Opinion Quarterly 39, pp. 189–198.
Flax, M.: 1972, A Study in Comparative Urgan Indicators: Conditions in 18 Large Metroplitan Areas (Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.).
Funkhauser, G. R.: 1973, ‘The issues of the sixties: An exploratory study of the dynamics of public opinion’, Public Opinion Quarterly 37, pp. 62–75.
Gibbs, J. P., and Erickson, M. L.: 1976, ‘Crime rates of American cities in an ecological context’, American Journal of Sociology 82, pp. 605–620.
Inter-University Consortium for Political Research: 1975, the CPS 1972 American National Election Study, Volume I: Introduction to Codebook (Pre-Election) (Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan).
Kennedy, L. W., Northcott, H. C. and Kinzel, C.: 1978, ‘Subjective evaluation and well-being: Problems and prospects’, Social Indicators Research 5, pp. 211–234.
Kleinbaum, D. G. and Kupper, L. L.: 1978, Applied Regression Analysis and Other Multivariable Methods (Duxbury Press, North Scituate, Massachusetts).
Knox, P. L.: 1976, ‘Subjective well-being and north sea oil: An application of subjective social indicators’, Regional Studies 10, pp. 423–432.
Kuz, T. J., ‘Quality of life, An objective and subjective variable analysis’, Regional Studies 12, pp. 409–417.
Liu, Ben-Chieh: 1975a, ‘Quality of life concept, measure and results’, The American Journal of Economics and Sociology 34, pp. 1–13.
Liu, Ben-Chieh: 1975b, Quality of Life Indicators in U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1970. A Comprehensive Assessment (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.).
Liu, Ben-Chieh: 1977, ‘Quality of life indicators in U.S. metropolitan areas, 1970. A reply’, Social Indicators Research 4, pp. 107–114.
Mason, R. and Faulkenberry, G. D.: 1978, ‘Aspirations, achievements and life satisfaction’, Social Indicators Research 5, pp. 133–150.
Nie, N. J., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K., and Bent, D. H.: 1975, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Second Edition (McGraw-Hill, New York).
Schneider, M.: 1975, ‘The quality of life in large American cities: Objective and subjective social indicators’, Social Indicators Research 1, pp. 495–509.
Schneider, M.: 1976, ‘The “quality of life” and social indicators research’, Public Administrative Review 37, pp. 286–395.
Seidman, D.: 1977a, ‘Review of quality of life indicators in U.S. metropolitan areas, Social Indicators Research 4, pp. 97–106.
Seidman, D.: 1977b, ‘Quality of life indicators in U.S. metropolitan areas, 1970. A rejoinder’, Soial Indicators Research 4, pp. 115–117.
Smith, D. M.: 1973, The Geography of Social Well-Being in the United States: An Introduction to Territorial Social Indicators (McGraw-Hill, New York).
Thorndike, E. L.: 1939, Your City (Harvourt, Brace and Company, New York).
Weber, M.: 1947, The Theory of Social and Economic Organization. Translated by A. M. Henderson and Talcott Parsons (The Free Press, Glencoe, Illinois).
Wilkening, E. A., and McGranahan, D.: 1978, ‘Correlates of subjective well-being in northern Wisconsin’, Social Indicators Research 5, pp. 211–234.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wasserman, I.M., Chua, L.A. Objective and subjective social indicators of the quality of life in American SMSA'S: A reanalysis. Soc Indic Res 8, 365–381 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292646
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292646