The social development approach compared to other approaches:

a discussion based on the social quality's frame of reference

Dr. Laurent J.G. van der Maesen

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AIM

To discuss the nature and ambitions of social development research in a broader context in order to start the exploration of its contribution to recent global and national challenges. A discussion based on the frame of reference of social quality research.

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Figuur-1: Context of social development research

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Exploration nature adequate which instru- social progress politics & ? ments (indica-

policies tors + others) ? ? Exploration nature Social development the main which instru- (exploration nature indices uments (indica- Social quality) tors + other ones?) ? ? Exploration nature adequate which instru- sustainability politics & ? ments (indica-

policies tors + others?)

Four questions concerning our purpose

1. What is the nature of the applied frame of reference as point of Archimedes? See for this frame of reference: (i) Social Quality: A New vision for Europe (The Hague, London, Boston: Kluwer Law International, 2001) and (ii) Social Quality: From Theory to Indicators (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2012)

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Four questions concerning our purpose (cont.)

2. How to conceive the nature of social development with this frame of reference in mind?3. How to connect or to compare

this nature with other current approaches?

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Four questions concerning our purpose (cont.)

4. Which specific contribution will the social development

orientation deliver to the debate, politics and policies for social progress and sustainability compared to other approaches?

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Fig.-2: Ontological aspects of social quality: constitution of the social

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ci = constitutive interdependency (dialectic)

processes of processes of the self-realisation formation of col- lective identities

self-referential framing structure capacity (opportunities and

contingencies)

leading into leading into competence configuration to act of human inter- relationships

resulting into the social (=productive and reproductive

relationships of people as social beings)

ci

ci

ci

Fig.-3: Epistemological aspects of social quality: three sets of factors

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( α) the constitutional factors ( β) the conditional factors * personal (human) security * socio-economic security * social recognition * social cohesion * social responsiveness * social inclusion * personal (human) capacity * social empowerment Determining the quality of the social (γ ) the normative factors (judgement of the outcomes of the linking of α +β)

* social justice

* solidarity

* equal value

* human dignity

Figure-4: Different steps to be made for social development?

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(1) ontological (3) research for (5) empirical research determining research (deductive based) adequate (inductive based) methodologies (2) epistemological (4) research for research (2) articulating (deductive based) methods (inductive based) deductive orientation inductive orientation (ad-1) (ad-3) (ad-5) determination * comparison with application concept social mainstream pattern and assess- development of thought, ment of the (and social capital, * reciprocity of deductive instruments social quality etc) and inductive forms of with help of reasoning for the opera- different tionalisation of dimensions techniques

* integration of the first + second methodology for the determination and operationalisation of

sub-dimensions (= indices) (ad-2) (ad-4)

determination determination of instruments dimensions social * delineation of their rationale development (or quality * delineation of their purposes of life, etc) * delineation of their natures

Fig. 5: Three instruments determining the quality of the three factors in order to determine the nature of

social quality (an example)

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Rationale of the instru- Purpose of the instruments nature (technical ments based on based on the determina- aspects) of instru- determination of the tion of its specificity of their instruments subject matters of sub-dimensions (indices) preparing for their dimensions (second method) data assessment (first method) Profiles (constit.fact) profiles (idem) profiles (idem) exploration of cognitive, emotional development of comparative in-depth interviews and and rational based research for analysing effects their elaboration in constitutions of human of changes of the focus-groups related beings as social constitutional factors with the rationale and actors purpose indicators (cond.fact) indicators (idem) indicators (idem) exploration of the material and immate- development of compara- surveys measuring rial opportunities and tive research exploring the what exists as empi- resources as condi- essential similarities and rical facts related with tions differences in the sub-dimen- the rationale and sions of the conditional factors purpose criteria (norm.fact) criteria (idem) criteria (idem) articulation of judgements by development of compara- introspection proces- citizens and experts tive research for analysing ses with citizens in con- as final considera- the application of the nor- frontation with meetings tions about the mative factors in the context by experts with which to linking of constitu- of the linking of the constitu- articulate judgements tional and conditio- tional and conditional factors related with the rationale nal factors and purpose

Different Approaches

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social development social capital

quality of live (and happiness) (1) which ontology?

human development (2) which

epistemology? human security

(3) which methodologies

capability

life quality (4) which methods?

social harmony (5) which techniques?

social quality

Different approaches compared

• Which applied all encompassing assumptions (referring to: utilitarism, voluntarism, structuralism, expressivity)?

• Which final basic orientation (hedonic or eudaimonic traditions)?

• Which final societal (human) goal (realisation social model, peace, social progress, sustainability)?

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