Methods and process
As a neighborhood platform, you might be wondering: how is a Wellbeing Dashboard created? We describe the process and methods here using the Venserpolder neighborhood as an example.
Bottom-up proces:
expertise of residents
The Wellbeing Dashboard Venserpolder was developed through a bottom-up process in which the expertise of residents played a key role and existing strengths and networks in the neighbourhood were built on. Local cooperation emerged from the ‘Community Wealth Building’ initiative, which argues that the wellbeing of residents should be central in the local economy (supported by Masterplan Zuidoost). To develop the dashboard, we collaborated with representatives of organisations and residents as local experts. This group of active and engaged residents already had a clear vision for improving wellbeing and the local economy in their neighbourhood. In a process of co-creation, scientists and residents looked at how this vision could be realised and the results made measurable.
Understanding: interviews, workshops and
co-creation sessions.
Several methods were used in this process. First, 9 interviews were held with representatives of local social organisations and initiatives. This gave us a first impression of what wellbeing means in Venserpolder and what the areas for improvement are.
As a second step, workshops were organized in which local experts determined which topics related to the local economy and wellbeing are actually important in Venserpolder and should be measured in the Wellbeing Dashboard. Also, together with residents we investigated how a corresponding Dashboard should look and what role it should fulfill in the neighborhood.
We then worked together to examine how to measure these aspects and what a corresponding dashboard should look like.
"The variety of shops is very limited in Venserpolder. For many products I have to walk 20 minutes."
Measurement: questionnaires
The researchers translated the chosen topics into measurable variables and indicators. These were validated by residents, and in collaboration a questionnaire was developed. Researchers from the University of Amsterdam personally administered these questionnaires to the representative group of 261 residents of Venserpolder. This produced both quantitative and qualitative data on wellbeing and the local economy in Venserpolder. This data was validated with the residents for representativeness and completeness.
Wellbeing Dashboard Venserpolder
This bottom-up process has led to the development and implementation of the Venserpolder Wellbeing Dashboard. The Dashboard is regularly updated to keep the vision of local residents and associated wellbeing indicators up to date. After all, important topics and priorities change over time, partly due to what has already been achieved and new challenges that arise.
Usage: conducting conversations
With the Dashboard in hand, neighborhood residents can engage in conversations with the municipality and other organizations themselves. In dialogue sessions, residents practiced this (‘capacity building’). This way they work together on solutions and policy actions for a better neighborhood.
Protocol Venserpolder
In Venserpolder, a Protocol has been developed that provides more details about the process. It serves as a code of conduct and standardized procedure to develop a Wellbeing Dashboard, including a neighborhood platform. It is also intended to be embedded as a democratic measurement tool in local policy practice.