The Reduction of Complexity by Means of Indicators - Case Studies in the Environmental Domain
The Reduction of Complexity by Means of Indicators - Case Studies in the Environmental Domain
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通过指标降低复杂性 - 环境领域的案例研究
DOI：
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发表时间：
2005
期刊：
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通讯作者：
W. Radermacher
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
W. Radermacher
这份文件阐明了建立统计指标的过程和所涉及的行为者。结果表明，提出的指标建立模式是建立在政治、科学和统计行为者之间合作的基础上的，它加强了与普通公众的讨论--前提是成功地传递信息。通过使用环境领域的案例研究--显示指标寿命短和忽视所涉行为者的问题--制定了一个建立指标的乐观建设程序。该模型考虑了所有相关行为者(统计、科学和政治)及其工作系统的复杂性。对案例的分析还表明，建立指标不能是一个线性过程，而是一个迭代的决策过程，找到了令人满意的次级解决办法，实现了次级目标。在建立指标的程序中，汇总指标是一个合理的过程。统计指标和相互矛盾的统计、科学和政治目标一般而言，统计指标是指单独或作为一套指标的一部分测量或计算的数量变量，以便就某一具体事项(指标)获得尽可能多的有效经验信息。因此，建立指标的目的是通过提供信息的指标来反映复杂的现实--一个社会的状况、其社会、经济和生态联系及其发展(Schafer等人)。2004年，第167页及其后)。现实的主要结构和发展将由统计信息来表示。现实本身是复杂的。从中提取本质需要一个发现知识的过程，在这个过程中，本质与非本质分开，小的描述性“信息原子”在一个逐步的过程中聚集起来，形成更大的人工制品，然后这些人工制品可以代表更全面的现实子系统。这类方法中最突出、最成功的是国民账户。利用大量的个人专业信息，建立了一个基于理论的、一致的商业周期经验总体图景，从而产生了增长、收入等宏观指标。这个例子说明了现实的更大和更小的部分如何与更大和更小的统计信息相对应，以及后者之间的(等级)关系是什么。在相当长的一段时间里，指标一直是公众关注的焦点。在理论和政治层面上，讨论了许多指标，并日益重视这些指标的实际执行情况。与其他提供者的许多面向项目的计量相比，官方统计不仅符合客观性和中立性的标准，而且具有定期出版物和长期统计系列的优势。
This paper sheds light on the process of constructing statistical indicators and on the actors involved. It is shown that the model of indicator-building presented is based on cooperation between the actors of politics, science, and statistics and that it enhances discussion with the general public - provided that the information is successfully transmitted. By using case studies from the environmental domain - showing the problem of short-lived indicators and of disregarding an actor involved - an optimistic construction process for indicator-building is developed. The model takes account of all relevant actors (statistics, science, and politics) and of the complexity of their work systems. Analysing the case examples also shows that indicator-building cannot be a linear process but is rather an iterative decision-making process where satisfactory sub-solutions are found and sub-targets are met. Aggregating the indicators is done as a rational process in that procedure of indicator-building. Indicators and the conflicting goals of statistics, science, and politics Generally, what is meant by statistical indicators is quantitative variables measured or calculated which, individually or as part of a set, allow to obtain as much valid empirical information as possible on a specific matter (indicandum). Consequently, the purpose of indicator-building is to represent the complex reality - the state of a society, its social, economic and ecological connections, and their development - by means of an informative indicator (Schafer et al. 2004, pp. 167 et seqq.). The main structures and developments of reality are to be represented by statistical information. Reality itself is complex. Extracting from it the essential requires a process of knowledge-finding where the essential is separated from the non-essential and where small descriptive "information atoms" are aggregated in a stepwise process to form larger artefacts, which then can represent more comprehensive sub-systems of reality. The most prominent and most successful approach of that type is national accounts. Using a wealth of individual specialised information, a theory-based, consistent empirical overall picture of the business cycle is developed there, leading to macro indicators such as growth, income, etc. This example illustrates how larger and smaller sections of reality correspond with larger and smaller pieces of statistical information and what the (hierarchical) relations between the latter are like. For quite some time already, indicators have been in the focus of the general public. At the theoretical and political levels, a multitude of indicators are discussed and increasing attention is paid to their empirical implementation. Compared with many project-oriented measurements of other providers, official statistics not only meets the criteria of objectivity and neutrality but also offers the advantage of having regular publications and long-time statistical series.