Understanding Human Progress and Well-being

Human Development: Progress and Well-being

Human development focuses directly on the progress of life and well-being; it is an evaluation of life. Human development is linked to strengthening specific skills related to the whole range of things a person can be and do in life. This involves the possibility for all people to increase their human potential fully and utilize that capacity in all areas—cultural, economic, and political—that is, in capacity-building.

Human development is about freedom to live as one likes.

Human development has to do with the expression of civil liberties and is associated with the possibility that all individuals are subjects and beneficiaries of development; that is, they are constituted as subjects.

Modifications of Human Development

• Moving away from rigid, intermittent models (like the Eurocentric male/female model).
• The participatory tax model.
• Development from knowledge recognition.
• Shifting from homogeneity to heterogeneity of development (referring to multiple cultures together).
• Shifting from the target population as subjects (where one subject was previously defined, now all are actors).

Examples of Human Development Evolution

The evolution of human development is seen through areas such as: Poverty, democratic institutions, gender issues, and Security.

It is also important to know that: Human development is a realization of the ideals and requirements given by the set of human rights, not only as a rational horizon for human action but also as an ingredient in a sentimental education (R. Rorty).

Gilbert Rist is also very explicit in his criticism: "Culture, trust, and capital are not 'development' purposes, but they will not be achieved unless the 'development' model based on market logic is radically altered."

Research Methodologies

Quantitative Research

This involves collecting and analyzing quantitative variables. It studies the association or relationship between quantified variables, attempting to determine the strength of association or correlation between variables, and aims for generalization and objectivity of results through a sample to make inferences about the population from which the sample was drawn.

Qualitative Research

This approach avoids quantification and focuses on structural and situational contexts. It identifies the underlying nature of reality, meaning its system of relations and dynamic structures.