Quality of Life Modelling on the Basis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Abstract

In the chapter the problematic of the Quality of Life (QL) modelling in the Czech Republic (CR) is presented. These models are suggested on the basis of the definitions QL analysis, approach to the measuring of QL and with using the complex system model of the QL, which can be used as a feedback information in the process of managing the public administration. At the basis of the systematic approach the models working with qualitative and quantitative data were suggested. In the first case it is the data from the questionnaire survey using the different methodology approaches. They are the data sets from the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences (ISAS) of the CR and a project of the civic association Team Initiative for Local Sustainable Development (TILSD). The methods cluster analysis (CA) and decision trees (DTs) were used for classifying the “satisfaction of respondents” with the selected part of QL and recommended decision making regulations. In the second case it was the quantitative data from the public accessible sources in the CR, e.g. Public database of the Czech Statistical Office (CSO), Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, CSO of Pardubice’s region, Portal of Regional Information Service etc. When selecting the indicators of QL, which represent the input variables of the model, it was resulted of the Strategic Framework (SF) of the sustainable development in the CR. The methods regression analysis were used for predicting the values of the indicators, DTs for classification of the QL levels in the regions of the CR and methods of th e multidimension al statistics for the suggestion of the aggregated indicators of QL. An expression QL is closely related to an expression life’s satisfaction. It is obvious that defining of the expressions satisfaction and QL brings many dilemmas and it is necessary to take into considerations the differences in the opinion of this theme. Reaching the life’s satisfaction is either conscious or unconscious effort of every individual. It is very subjective figure, which is changing in time and the expression “satisfaction” itself is vast and indefinite. Also the satisfaction determines, to the considerable extent, individual perception of the QL. This expression can be partly overlapped in some theories with well-being and life satisfaction could be a superior expression (Bastecka & Domka Ģova, 2011). An asset to the creation of the opinion “satisfaction” is presented in the work (Hamplova, 2006), who summarizes pieces of knowledge of many authors, such as (Diener & Lucas,