Agency Goals, Adaptation and Capability Sets

Burchardt, Tania

doi:10.1080/14649880802675044

Cited by 67 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…1 For example, comparisons have been made between emotion, idealism or pragmatism? The answers are not at all straightforward since there are many interpretations and applications of the notion of aspiration (Sewell and Shah 1968;Ray 2003;Appadurai 2004;Watts and Bridges 2004;Burchardt 2009;Fuller 2009;Ibrahim 2011;. In different contexts it might be argued that aspirations can be all of these things and more.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Aspirations Matter?

Hart

2016

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

153

100

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This paper explores the complex roles of aspirations in relation to human development, drawing upon the capability approach. The paper examines the notion of feasibility of aspirations and the impact feasibility judgements have on aspiration formation and aspiration realization, in terms of both capabilities and functionings. In particular this paper extends existing theory by building on Hart's dynamic multidimensional model of aspiration and Hart's aspiration set (2012. Aspiration, Education and Social Justice -Applying Sen and Bourdieu. London: Bloomsbury). The theorization builds on empirical work, undertaken in the UK, seeking to understand pupils' aspirations on leaving school and college at age 17-19 as well as reviewing wider empirical and theoretical literature in this field. The discussion contributes to capability theory by extending understanding regarding first, the way that aspirations are connected to capabilities and functionings, secondly, the processes by which aspirations are converted into capabilities and thirdly, how certain capabilities become functionings. The paper reflects on the criteria that inform choices about the cultivation and selection of different aspirations on individual and collective bases. In concluding the paper the question of, "how do aspirations matter?" is addressed. Ultimately, an argument is made for the need to "reclaim" a rich multi-dimensional concept of aspiration in order to pursue human development and flourishing for all.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Aspirations Matter?

Hart

2016

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

153

100

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“…As a consequence, the capability approach is vulnerable to the same problems of adaptation that haunt utilitarianism (Burchardt, 2009). The capability approach postulates that we should aim at the expansion of people's beings and doings that they have reason to value.…”

Section: The Challenges Posed By Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Ray's (2003) terms, the aspirations of the women made it clear that they have a significant aspirations gap, and hence they did not show adaptation in the sense of having a very small or negligible adaptation gap. Still, if we were to compare the absolute levels of aspirations of these women with those of others, it is very likely that these absolute levels of aspirations would be lower (as Burchardt [2009] showed for the United Kingdom). These women want, just as their better-off fellow citizens, to climb a few steps on the aspirations staircase; yet they are currently positioned much lower on that staircase.…”

Section: Limitations Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For a long time, scholars have been reflecting on the fact that aspirations and preferences can be adapted, and discussing which normative and political issues adaptation raises, both theoretically as well as in the context of development (for example, Elster, 1983, Sen, 1985b1992, p. 55;Nussbaum, 2000;Teschl and Comim, 2005;Burchardt, 2009;Clark, 2009Clark, , 2012aClark, , 2012bKhader, 2009). Yet there is a variety of ways in which 'adaptation' can be understood, and the different conceptualizations have consequences for which preferences will be identified as 'adapted' and which will not.…”

Section: Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aspirations and Human Development Interventions

Conradie¹,

Robeyns²

2013

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

103

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What role can aspirations play in small-scale human development interventions? In this paper, we contribute to answering that question with both conceptual and empirical work. Aspirations can play at least two roles in small-scale human development interventions: the capabilities-selecting role and the agencyunlocking role. While aspirations also face the challenge of adaptation to adverse circumstances and unjust social structures, we argue that this challenge can be met by embedding the formulation and expression of aspirations within a setting of public discussion and awareness-raising activities, and that adaptation can be further countered by including a commitment to action. We then report on field research done in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, South Africa, where a group of women went through a process of voicing, examining, and then realizing their aspirations. The action research confirms our theoretical hypotheses. We also do not find any evidence of adaptation of the women's aspirations, and argue that the absence of such adaptation might be a result of active capability selection, reflection, deliberation, and the exercise of agency throughout the action research programme.

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“…Such value judgments would avoid issues 697 of adaptation as well; adaptation is where individuals may not recognise their own lack of 698 capability because they have adapted to their situation (Menzel et al 2002;Burchardt 2009). 699…”

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confidence: 99%

Operationalising the capability approach as an outcome measure in public health: The development of the OCAP-18

Lorgelly

Lorimer

Fenwick

et al. 2015

Social Science & Medicine

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5There is growing interest in operationalising the capability approach to measure quality of 6 life. This paper reports the results of a research project undertaken in 2007 that sought to 7 reduce and refine a longer survey in order to provide a summary measure of wellbeing and 8 capability in the realm of public health. The reduction and refinement of the questionnaire 9 took place across a number of stages, using both qualitative (five focus group discussions and 10 17 in-depth interviews) and quantitative (secondary data analysis, N=1,048 and primary data 11 collection using postal surveys and interviews, N=45) approaches. The questionnaire was 12 reduced from its original 60+ questions to 24 questions (including demographic questions). 13Each of Nussbaum's ten Central Human Capabilities are measured using one (or more) of the 14 18 specific capability items which are included in the questionnaire (referred to as the OCAP-15 18). Analysis of the questionnaire responses (N=198) found that respondents differed with 16 respect to the levels of capabilities they reported, and that these capabilities appear to be 17 sensitive to one's gender, age, income and deprivation decile. An index of capability, 18 estimated by assuming equal weight for each capability question, found that the average level 19 of capability amongst respondents was 12.44 (range 3-17.75). This index was found to be 20 highly correlated with a measure of health (EQ-5D) and wellbeing (global QoL), although 21 some differences were apparent. This project operationalised the capability approach to 22 produce an instrument to measure the effectiveness (and cost effectiveness) of public health 23 interventions; the resulting OCAP-18 appears to be responsive and measure something 24 supplementary to health and wellbeing, thus offers a promising addition to the current suite of 25 outcome measures that are available. Sen's Capability Approach (Sen 1985;1993) would appear to provide a possible solution to 77 the limitations of QALYs, as it expands the evaluative space (so it can include non-health 78 outcomes like empowerment, participation, housing, and crime) to consider whether a 79 programme/policy/intervention enhances an individual's capability (Lorgelly et al. 2010). 80Previous evaluative approaches focus on subjective-wellbeing (utilitarism) or the availability 81 5 of means for a good life (resourcism). The alternative paradigm of the capability approach 82 instead suggests that the focus of wellbeing should be a set of valuable 'beings and doings' 83 (for example being in good health or having loving relationships), which can be measured by 84 opportunities (capabilities) or outcomes (functionings) (Sen 1992). Sen desires that policies 85 ought to promote the "capabilities of persons to lead the kind of lives they value -and have 86 reason to value ' (Sen 1999, p.18). Of interest in its application to public health is the 87 evaluative space; it diverges from narrow utility space, which is concerned with the pleasure 88 obtained from...

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Agency Goals, Adaptation and Capability Sets

Cited by 67 publications

References 26 publications

How Do Aspirations Matter?

How Do Aspirations Matter?

Aspirations and Human Development Interventions

Operationalising the capability approach as an outcome measure in public health: The development of the OCAP-18

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