Framework Of Capability Approach Research Articles

ICT4D and the capability approach: understanding how freedom of expression on ICTs affect human development at the country-level

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine freedom of expression on ICTs as a conversion factor that impacts the success of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D). Prior country-level econometric research on ICT4Ds has measured development using resource- or utilitarian-based approaches. We utilize the capability approach, a people-centered approach which presents the opportunity to look at conversion factors in a country. Using the capability approach framework, four country-level conversion factors of ICTs are identified as enablers/restrictors of either opportunity or process freedoms, and then are hypothesized with relation to human development. Using archival data and a 2SLS model, we test ICT cost, ICT infrastructure, and the interaction effect between e-participation and freedom of expression on ICTs to predict a country’s human development. Results suggest that both ICT cost and infrastructure significantly affect human development. Furthermore, freedom of expression only impacts human development with high levels of e-participation.

Who is online? A latent class analysis of internet activities and determinant characteristics of older people

As Italy is the European country with the highest percentage of adults aged over 60, growing concerns have emerged about how the ageing population is living in an era of increasing digitalisation. According to the capability approach framework, Internet services can enable older adults to achieve social inclusiveness and independence, only if the variety of digital activities includes a large number of active ageing parameters. This is the first study that explores Internet use by Italian older adults and identifies latent groups of Internet users. We elaborated 13,597 responses from an Italian representative annual population survey and 40 different online activities were analysed using an Exploratory Factor Analysis and further elaborated together with sociodemographic variables in a Latent Class Analysis. Three classes of older Internet users were identified: Utilitarian, Familiar and Enjoyment users. The findings support the existence of heterogeneous older Internet users, at the same time showing the importance of personal characteristics to predict class membership. Being female, widowed, having a low income, being poorly educated, living alone, and having various comorbidities predicted fewer online activities. From a policy perspective, this study highlights that targeted training programmes together with improvements to digital infrastructures are essential to increase the level of Internet activities in later life as is the need for policies in favour of the disadvantaged groups in the older population.

Will short-term constraints affect long-term growth? Empirical analysis from the Beibu Gulf Mangrove National Natural Reserve of China

The capability approach has long been confined to a static, short-term framework, preventing it from truly providing normative guidance for enhancing multidimensional well-being and sustainable development. Human well-being cannot be seen as fixed, so there is an urgent need to assess the capability approach from a dynamic and long-term perspective. In this paper, the Beibu Gulf Mangrove National Natural Reserve of China was selected as a study area. A sustainable development perspective was integrated into a static capability approach theory framework, focusing on changes in capability approach with a dynamic, long-term gaze, and the impact of coastal zone ecological protection policies on farmers' multidimensional well-being was measured at spatial and temporal scales. The results indicate that ecological conservation policies reduce the level of capability approach of farm households in the short term. However, from a dynamic and long-term perspective, once the “pain period” is over, the capability approach can be continuously improved, achieving a win-win situation for both farmer well-being and ecological sustainability. This result also innovatively verified the core of the capability approach, which states that “freedom” under the capability approach framework is not unrestricted freedom, but restricted freedom. This will further expand and improve the relevant research of Sen's capability approach theory, and is also a beneficial exploration of combining Sen's capability approach theory with the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to solve the contradiction between peasant household welfare development and environmental protection, we need to explore a new scheme. The results of the study provide the government and policy makers with ideas for improving ecological protection policies, along with a more accurate and scientific basis for optimizing the multidimensional welfare compensation system to improve the feasibility and effectiveness of policy implementation.

Assistive Technology Makerspaces Promote Capability of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Makerspaces can engage people with disabilities in the design and development of assistive technology (AT) that can enhance their capabilities to perform new activities and function. However, the adoption of makerspaces in the environments and institutions serving people with disabilities remains challenging. The authors modeled a makerspace training program, an environmental intervention, based on the capability approach framework. This mixed methods study investigates the feasibility of an 8-week program to train adults (n = 5) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and staff members (n = 5) at a community services center. Study outcomes were measured using knowledge tests, surveys, QUEST 2.0 and interviews. Results indicate a significant increase in staff’s knowledge (p = 0.035) and familiarity with program topics (p < 0.05). Participants with IDD were highly satisfied with the ease of use, weight and effectiveness of the AT devices they created. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis of interviews: (1) inclusive environment, (2) freedom and improved Capability for building technology for self or client, (3) multidisciplinary collaboration, (4) interactive program elements, (5) makerspace challenges. Overall, the makerspace training program is a valuable program that empowers people with disabilities and ensures the realization of their right of autonomy to create their own AT.

Poverty risk estimation on the basis of Sen’s capability approach with the application of the MIMIC model

Poverty is a problem which concerns not only the affected individual, but also a whole society. Poverty tends to hinder or even prevent the economic growth and social development of a country. Therefore, undertaking action which could reduce poverty is of great importance, as is the provision of ongoing help to impoverished individuals (households). The main aim of the research presented in the paper is a multidimensional analysis of poverty risk in the framework of capability approach developed by Amartya Sen. The article also aims at defining the determinants of poverty which increase or decrease the risk of its occurrence, and comparing the poverty risk estimations obtained through the adoption of the multidimensional and unidimensional approach. The research concerning Poland (e.g. by regions) used data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey, carried out by Statistics Poland in 2018. The measurement was operationalised by means of a special variant of structural equations modelling (SEM) – the multiple indicators and multiple causes model (MIMIC). The MIMIC model used deprivation symptoms that reflected the degree to which respondents were unable to satisfy their needs. The model also took into account the factors that increase or reduce the risk of poverty. The results of the estimations demonstrate that the level of education has the most significant impact on reducing the risk of poverty, while a low activity on the job market, i.e. being a pensioner or unemployed, increases the odds of becoming poor to the greatest extent. The regions most prone to poverty in multidimensional terms are: the Eastern macro-region, rural areas, pensioners’ households and non-family multi-person households. The aforementioned results have been compared with the measurement of poverty according to the unidimensional approach. The study shows the differences between the rankings of poverty risk by macro-region, size of the place of residence, source of household income and by household type from obtained through multidimensional and unidimensional approaches. This comparison demonstrates that the unidimensional approach is insufficient for the identification of the poor.

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Capability Approach Framework [TVET-CAF

TVET played an important role as one of supply mechanism on the competence human capital towards the economic growth of Malaysia including for construction industry. However, the mass of unemployed graduates has caused their readiness towards involvement in the industry become questionable. Thus, the aim of the study is to propose a TVET-CAF framework to enhance the career readiness of Construction Technology graduates through systematic reviews of literature. The major elements of the framework are: the relevance of the graduates, efficacy level of the graduates and ways to enhance level of efficacy the graduates. Therefore, it will assist in improving the quality of education for the graduate towards better student outcome alongside with RMK-11 strategic thrust which is accelerating human capital development for an advanced nation.

Does information and communication technology really affect human development? An empirical analysis

ABSTRACT Positive effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on human development (HD) is not guaranteed simply by the availability of technology; this gap is especially pronounced for developing countries. Using the Capability Approach framework, we collected data from 115 countries for 2019. We tested a sample to determine stable groups of countries and split the dataset into two groups, which homogeneity differs significantly. Finally, we estimated the hypotheses predicting the influence of ICT on HD for both groups using a path modelling technique. Our results confirm the significant positive contribution of ICT on all kinds of conversion factors (CFs), except social ones in developing countries. However, the way to transform capabilities into functionings differs. In developing countries, ICT contributes to HD at the individual level only. For developed countries, ICT contributes more to social CFs and less to personal ones.

The role of transportation infrastructure on the impact of natural hazards on communities

Transportation infrastructure are critical systems supporting community well-being. Its impairment or failure due to hazardous events can lead to societal consequences which are typically challenging to identify, properly model, and quantify. Additionally, these consequences can exacerbate pre-existing distributive inequalities. The Capability Approach has been used to identify and quantify societal consequences in post-disaster scenarios. This paper introduces novel connectivity-based metrics within a Capability Approach framework to quantify well-being and distributive justice in the aftermath of a hazardous event. The paper proposes a methodology to link the ability of individuals to maintain health, be sheltered, be mobile, be educated, or earn income with the loss or reduction of functionality of transportation infrastructure, investigating both the short-term response (immediate impact), and the long-term recovery on the capabilities. As an example, the paper applies the proposed metrics to a real community subject to a seismic hazard. Results show that the different capabilities are impacted both in the response and recovery phases to different degrees.

Investigating the factors behind differences in ‘lay’ and ‘expert’ medical knowledge in the context of fever treatment in Yangon, Myanmar.

Greater social research aiming to understand the qualitative experiences of patients and healthcare workers is necessary in order to create informed health policies. A key aspect of this is acknowledging and uncovering how 'lay' and 'expert' medical knowledge interact and co-exist. This paper uses the context of fever treatment in Yangon, Myanmar, to investigate the factors behind differences between 'lay' and 'expert' medical knowledge. This cross-sectional study conducts a deductive thematic analysis of secondary qualitative data from both patients and medical doctors using an adapted form of Amartya Sen’s capability approach framework. Results uncover how education, socially rooted collective knowledge and unregulated pharmacies drive differences between 'lay' and 'expert' medical knowledge. The results of this paper highlight the interdisciplinary nature of health, meaning health systems should be considered within their sociological, political and economic contexts. Appreciating the complexity of how health is understood by populations can allow policymakers to form a stronger health system by creating contextualised policies and health interventions for the general public that cater to the diversity of narratives within health systems and beliefs.

Learning urban capabilities from behaviours. A focus on visitors values for urban planning

Evaluating environmental resources such as urban and territorial opportunities means understanding their value. Monetary values are not always suitable to synthesize the opportunity that such resources give to the development of individuals in urban space. We propose a spatial multi-criteria analysis method oriented to analyse values that individuals give to different urban and territorial opportunities within a capability approach framework. We analyse visitors’ behaviour in space and we learn their urban capabilities considering the values they give to environmental resources and assets. In order to learn such values we use a multi-attribute value measurement method. Furthermore, we define groups of people with similar values of urban opportunities and with similar relevant urban capabilities. This consents to design more legitimated policies aimed to expand the set of relevant capabilities for a given population target. The method is experimented and illustrated with a case study of urban planning for the city of Alghero.

Towards a gender sensitive vulnerability assessment for climate change: Lambani, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Women's limited access to resources and decision-making processes increases their vulnerability to impacts of climate change. Despite their own vulnerability, women are often responsible for caring for close relatives, extended families and friends during hazardous and traumatic events (whether its famine, floods, drought or forced displacements). Based on experience and knowledge it is believed that women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men, primarily as they constitute the majority of the world's poor and are more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources that are threatened by climate change. The paper proposes a gender sensitive vulnerable assessment framework that is scaffolded by three key concepts: exposure, temporality and resource base. Because the study is grounded in the Capability Approach Framework it captures multi-dimensionality and intangible goods which are emotions such as fear, anger, shock or shame. It seeks to better understand the differentiated responses of men and women to climate variations and stress such as extreme heat, cold, droughts or floods in a specific site, Lambani, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The main aim is to understand different responses of men and women to climate change in order to design and populate a vulnerability assessment (VA) framework. In order to do so the Capability Approach (CA) is applied as a theoretical frame with its lens on diversity and social justice. The CA thus provides an expanded notion of human well-being that taps into the emotional life of women and men in Lambani.

Using the capability approach to analyze contemporary environmental governance challenges in coastal Brazil

Conservation and development are often framed as a dichotomy, requiring trade-offs. But trade-offs can be due to the particular political situation and to relationships of domination, and are not necessarily the inevitable result of intractable situations. Amartya Sen’s capability approach, which centers on human development, has enjoyed increasing applications in the environment area, but little in the commons literature. This article applies the capability approach framework to analyze human development in Trindade, Brazil, by answering key questions that are central to this approach (1) What kind of lives are people able to live? Are they able to be or do what they have reason to value? and (2) What is the quality of economic, social and political relations in Trindade? Three main 'shocks' emerge: (a) Conflict with external commercial developers, (b) Paving of access road into community, and (c) Enforcement of protected area regulations on historical community land and sea space. Capability priorities were established for women, men, older adults, and people with disabilities. The impacts of development and conservation policies are different for the four groups, as are the priorities for capabilities. The case demonstrates that space for public participation is not sufficient to ensure that the people who are trying to improve their wellbeing, and be the author of their own lives, can influence the outcome. It also shows that regular contact through public participation does not necessarily create empathy, as Sen assumed in The Idea of Justice.

Education Capability: A Focus on Gender and Science

The focus of the paper is on the measurement of science education capability with a gender perspective and in the capability approach framework. Measuring science education capability implies going beyond the measurement of children test scores. In the capability approach, we aim at the real opportunities that children can develop later in life and therefore it is important to include some measures of non-cognitive skills. We utilize, therefore, different indicators in addition to test scores in science: enjoyment in science, interest in science, general and personal values of science, self-confidence in performing science related tasks, awareness and perception of environmental issues, and responsibility for sustainable development. We utilize the 2006 PISA survey for Italian 15 years old children because it contains a particular focus on science and we estimate a Structural Equation Model to take into account that capabilities are latent constructs of which we only observe some indicators. We also investigate the determinants of children’s science education capability in Italy taking into account household, individual and school factors. Results confirm that boys outperform girls in science education capability. Our theoretical construct for the science education capability confirms that all the indicators are relevant to measure this capability. School activities to promote sciences improve girls’ capability and interactive methods of teaching improve both girls and boys capability. The household educational resources and the household educational possession are also positively correlated with girls’ and boys’ science education capability.

Yoksullukla Mücadeleye İnsan Hakları Açısından Bakmak: Amartya Sen’in Kapasite (Capability) Yaklaşımı Temelinde Bir Değerlendirme / Approaching To Struggle Against Poverty From The Point Of View Of Human Rights

The issue of struggle against poverty has been discussed intensively in the international arena especially from the beginning of 1990s. In this period, it is unquestionable that the problems arisen from the structural adjustment policies applied in developing and underdeveloped countries from the 1980s have negative effects on poverty. In the period of structural adjustment, the view dealing poverty as a problem which could be solved with the rise of economic growth shows that the issues of development and struggle against poverty is growth- centered and income- focused. In this paper, the convergence between the human rights and poverty discourses which has become widespread from the 1990s is drawn attention as a different paradigm to fight against poverty. The background of the approach to struggle against poverty from the point of view of human rights is analyzed in the framework of capability approach developed by Amartya Sen. In his capability approach, Amartya Sen deals with poverty as the deprivations of basic capabilities and he focuses on the non-income variables. The concepts of human development and human poverty built upon the capability approach of Amaryta Sen and developed by UNDP have been effective for the convergence of the issues of poverty and human rights. With his research agenda, Amartya Sen has succeeded in drawing international attention on the critical importance of fundamental freedoms and human rights for economic analysis. Approaching to struggle against poverty from the point of view of human rights will contribute both to being well understood of the nature of poverty and to the implementation of the effective policy instruments based on justifiable reasons for the struggle against poverty

Creating cycles of writing and reading in a resource-poor school community in Kenya: Could one literacy event lead to ongoing literacy practices?

Strong correlations between high levels of poverty and low education outcomes have prompted interventions aimed at raising literacy levels in communities characterised by poverty within Kenya, as in other countries. However, interventions aimed at improving literacy only in the languages of instruction (LOI) may not be the best option for students who speak mother tongues (MT) different from the school's LOI. The Capability Approach framework is used to examine the potential of parent-produced MT materials to be low-cost entry points into early-grade literacy for one resource-poor Kenyan school. It demonstrates that factors related to poverty strongly impact that potential.

Mobility: Discourses from the Non‐western Immigrant Groups in Norway

What happens when roots are replaced by routes? What happens when mobility becomes one of the primary tools for finding a niche in a different land and context? In an attempt to explore these themes, this paper touches upon emergent ideas regarding mobility, and delves into the inter‐connectedness of spatial and social mobility. Mobility signifies more than ‘movement’ and can act as a catalyst for enhancing life conditions. The study examines the debate over social exclusion, freedom, ethics, sustainable mobility and capability approach in the context of non‐western immigrants in Norway, and presents arguments from a social perspective to strengthen the mobility regime of immigrants. The study concludes that mobility provides capabilities to become active participants in the social and economic morphology of a society. It further suggests that societies need to adopt the framework of capability approach while examining issues related to the integration of immigrants into the host society.

The Guru and the Professional: The Dilemma of the Secondary School Teacher in Poona, India

Previous articleNext article No AccessStudies of TeachersThe Guru and the Professional: The Dilemma of the Secondary School Teacher in Poona, IndiaPratima KalePratima Kale Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Comparative Education Review Volume 14, Number 3Oct., 1970Papers and Proceedings: Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society, Atlanta Georgia, March 22-24, 1970 Sponsored by the Comparative and International Education Society Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/445497 Views: 9Total views on this site Citations: 23Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1970 The Comparative and International Education SocietyPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Padma M. 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