Abstract
Philanthropic partners in three metropolitan areas of Northeast Wisconsin collaborated to study quality of life using a mixed-method approach that enabled them to develop common indicators. The research was done in such a way that data could be aggregated regionally, shared and analyzed collectively, and compiled into a comprehensive report for the entire region. With the LIFE Study (an acronym for Leading Indicators for Excellence), each metro area compiled secondary, public opinion, and qualitative data to provide a rich data resource for its community and create a dashboard of leading indicators. Triangulation of the data revealed strong themes of local strengths and areas of concern. The Fox River Region LIFE Study demonstrates the feasibility of a collaborative project to compile data on quality of life at the regional level and offers a number of insights that will assist others in designing an approach that leads to regional action.
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Warner, L.H., Heath, A.A. (2013). The Fox River Region Leading Indicators for Excellence: The Benefits and Challenges of Regional Collaboration. In: Sirgy, M., Phillips, R., Rahtz, D. (eds) Community Quality-of-Life Indicators: Best Cases VI. Community Quality-of-Life Indicators, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6501-6_8
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