Missing Dimensions of Poverty Data: Introduction

Please scroll down for the survey modules themselves.

For a brief overview of this theme, please download the colourful ‘Missing Dimensions’ poster that introduces this work at a glance. Available in PDF (English French) or printed copies upon request.

The objective of human development is to expand the freedoms that people value and have reason to value, enabling people to live more fulfilled lives and to flourish. Data on people’s freedoms is needed to guide and evaluate development actions. More such data already exists than in any previous generation. Still, a critical bottleneck is a dearth of high-quality internationally comparable indicators of key freedoms. Our current goal is to identify and advocate the collection of data for a small set of indicators on ‘missing’ dimensions of human development that often matter to poor people. The specific dimensions we have identified include:

Employment, including both formal and informal employment, with particular attention as to the quality of employment (Lugo 2007);
Empowerment, or agency: the ability to advance goals one values and has reason to value (Ibrahim and Alkire 2007);
Physical safety, focusing on security from violence to property and person, as well as domestic violence and perceived violence (Diprose 2007);
The ability to go about without shame, to emphasize the importance of dignity, respect and freedom from humiliation (Zavaleta 2007); and

We have also developed one survey module in an area which we do not necessarily consider to be a dimension of poverty, but for which greater internationally comparable data are required:

Psychological and subjective wellbeing, to emphasize meaning, satisfaction and their determinants (Samman 2007).

The following criteria were sued to choose suitable indicators for inclusion in individual or household surveys:

The indicators needed to be internationally comparable. This is particularly important as there is a dearth of information available on comparative indicators of our ‘missing dimensions’
The indicators seek to assess not only the instrumental but also the intrinsic aspects of the dimensions we propose.
The indicators are intended to identify changes in our dimensions over time.
Crucially, the choice of the indicators draws on experience with particular indicators to date, i.e., how frequently these indicators have been previously fielded and found to be ‘adequate’ measures for research purposes. The perception-based indicators have been less frequently used in nationally-representative surveys but have been subject to psychometric testing for reliability and validity; they now require further scrutiny particularly in the context of poorer countries.

Shortlisted Indicators and Survey Modules

In preparation for OPHI's launch in May 2007, short lists of indicators and survey questions were proposed to measure the 'missing dimensions' of poverty. The survey modules and accompanying documentation can be downloaded here.

The following documents are currently available:

Missing Dimensions Manual: this document contains the main documents listed below: Background information, the modules and technical notes on their implementation (59 pages)

Briefing: This summary document gives a brief justification and of each of the 'missing dimensions' of poverty and of work on psychological/subjective wellbeing.

Shortlists: The short-listed questions for each module can be downloaded individually in English or Spanish (updated July 2009)

Employment .........................................................Spanish Employment
Empowerment.......................................................Spanish Empowerment
Physical safety and security....................................Spanish Physical safety & security
The ability to go about without shame.....................Spanish Ability to go about without shame
Psychological and subjective wellbeing...................Spanish Psychological & subjective well-being

OPHI survey showcards.......................................Spanish OPHI survey showcards

Alternatively, please download then entire set of questionnaires (Last updated 26 June 2008)

A Spanish version of these questionnaires is also available (Last updated 8 October 2008)

Guidelines: For guidance in implementing these questionnaires, please see:

Methodological Guidelines for Implementing and Analysing the Missing Dimensions Surveys

Technical Notes on Use of the Employment Module

Technical Notes on Use of the Empowerment Module

Technical Notes on Use of the Psychological and Subjective Wellbeing Module

Web resources on statistical analysis (esp. factor analysis)

Fielding, Data Collection and Analysis
OPHI has an ongoing collaboration with teams around the world to test these modules and to produce new data and analyses on the missing dimensions. The first nationally representative data set and analyses was recently conducted in Chile, while other smaller scale data collection projects are currently underway in Chard, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and the Philippines. We are also currently working on translations of these questionnaires into various languages, and producing documents giving further technical guidance on the implementation of these surveys gained through field experience. These materials will shortly be available on this website.

Plans are on-going to test these modules on a national level in Bolivia, Bhutan, and Mexico.

To find out more about the national-level 'Missing Dimensions of Poverty Survey in Chile' click here

The full questionnaire implemented in Chad can be downloaded here in French

We welcome expressions of interest from any individuals or organizations seeking to test any (or ideally all) modules of this survey.

For more information about any of these indicators and associated research, or if you plan to use them in your own work, please contact José Manuel Roche at jose.roche@qeh.ox.ac.uk.