Subjective measures of climate resilience: What is the added value for policy and programming?. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clare, Abbie; Graber, Rebecca; Jones, Lindsey; Conway, Declan
• Is Part Of: Global environmental change. Volume 46(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Climate change -- Resilience -- Measurement -- Subjective -- Objective -- Kyrgyzstan -- Methodology -- Questionnaire -- Psychological resilience -- Subjective wellbeing; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Écologie humaine -- Périodiques; Homme -- Influence sur la nature -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Human ecology; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.07.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3780

Abstract

Highlights: Subjective approaches are increasingly popular for measuring climate resilience. Validity & reliability of subjective measures have not been tested systematically. Testing should draw on lessons from psychological resilience & subjective well-being. Validated measures may increase our understanding & identification of resilience. Cross-cultural comparability may also be improved using subjective measures. Abstract: Subjective approaches to resilience measurement are gaining traction as a complementary approach to the standard frameworks that typically contain objective measures. Proponents suggest that subjective approaches may add value to existing measures in three areas: by improving our understanding of the drivers of resilience, reducing the questionnaire burden on respondents, and potentially offering more valid cross-cultural comparisons. This perspective assesses the potential, evidence and uncertainties around each of these claims, drawing from decades of research using subjective techniques in the wellbeing and psychological resilience literatures. Overall we find that subjective approaches can theoretically add value in each of these three areas. However the design of appropriate indicators must proceed with specificity and rigour for subjective measures to add value to programming and policy for climate resilience.