Using well-being measures to promote statistical literacy

Abstract

This paper describes and discusses an activity proposed to secondary school students to experience the process of measuring well-being of society. The suggestion is part of a series of initiatives conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) to promote statistical literacy among young people. Students are required to reflect about well-being concepts, to operationalize well- being dimensions, to analyse and interpret well-being data, and to verbalise their statistical analysis. Data sets come from the Istat’s “Report on equitable and sustainable well-being” (BES) and contains over one hundred indicators concerning the fundamental dimensions of well-being and progress in Italy and its territories. Retracing the path to define and measure well-being, students become familiar with these issues and using real data they anchor the learning process to everyday life.