African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6860

Full Length Research Paper

A quantitative assessment for quality of life: The case of metropolitan Ankara, Turkey

Ilkden Tazebay1*, Mehmet Somuncu2 and Nevin Akpinar3
1Department of Landscape Architecture, Ankara University, 06110 Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey. 2Department of Geography, Ankara University,  06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. 3Centre of Research and Training on Environmental Problems, Ankara University,  06110 Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 05 January 2010
  •  Published: 18 June 2010

Abstract

Researches on evaluation of Quality of Life (QOL) gained much attention in quantitative studies and on urban areas especially since recent years. In this  study two quantitative methods, namely AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and ELECTRE II (Elimination Et Choix Traduisant la Realite - Elimination and Choice Translating Reality) are used to  evaluate QOL. QOL was determined, compared and ranked for eight counties in metropolitan Ankara Metropolitan for the purpose of providing a database for local governments, decision makers and planners involved in policy making, as well as to construct a base for comparative analysis for different urban areas. Different weights were assigned to indicators in two experiments for the eight counties of Ankara during the QOL evaluation process. Result values showed great disparities between the counties in terms of QOL. This information is important especially in revealing problems and for the allocation of scarce resources.  Determination of trends over time and awareness of changing conditions and priorities should also be considered as factors for further studies. The study also shows that both AHP and ELECTRE II method can be applied in QOL assessment and ranking.

 

Key words: Quality of life (QOL), AHP, ELECTRE, Ankara.