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Module Content

Any notion of sustainable global prosperity is unavoidably bound up with the question of how prosperity should be systematically researched and measured. Many have argued that behind the spectacular failures of dominant economic forms lies a spectacular failure to 'measure what matters'. This module therefore explores diverse methods for effective prosperity research and measurement. The module is practical in nature and focuses on the different sources and types of data (both quantitative and qualitative and at multiple scales from the individual to national) that may be brought to bear in prosperity research and how such data may be collected and analysed. The module is focused on the development and application of a range of core quantitative and qualitative research skills as well as an examination of how other organizations/bodies have approached the issue of researching prosperity. We also critically consider some of the conceptual models that underpin current prosperity measurement frameworks including subjective wellbeing, happiness, capability and quality of life. The module moves from consideration of more fine-grained qualitative understandings of prosperity in diverse contexts and towards broader measures of prosperity derived from larger-scale quantitative data sets. We cover diverse research methods including ethnographic and interview techniques, survey methods, online archival and big data, and citizen science and transdisciplinary techniques. You will become familiar with a range of metrics currently used to measure prosperity such as the GINI Index, Human Development Index, OECD Better Life Index, Legatum Prosperity Index Social Progress Index and Happy Planet Index. Working in groups, you will also deploy the methods learnt to develop and share your own ‘micro-prosperity’ index. The module is taught through introductory online content and classes linked to a range of group practical or Active Learning tasks. Additional Skills and Personal Development sessions are also offered in order to allow you to develop a range of professional and academic skills related to becoming a leader in the field of prosperity research.

Illustrative module outline

1. Approaches to Researching and Measuring Prosperity
2. Qualitative Prosperity Research: Ethnography and Interviews
3. Intermediate Prosperity Research: Surveys and Subjective Measures
4. Quantitative Prosperity Research: Archives, Big data and their analysis
5. Transdisciplinary Research: Crowd Sourcing and Citizen Science
6. The Legatum Prosperity Index
7. The Social Progress Index
8. The Institute for Global Prosperity approach to Prosperity in London (with possible fieldtrip to East London)
9. Researching Prosperity in Context: Environment and Impact
10. Student-led presentation of group ‘Micro-Prosperity Indexes’