From Deprivation by Peter Townsend in
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 4:58 am
Our understanding of deprivation today is predominantly thanks to the work of a sociologist called Peter Townsend. Back in the late 1980s, he published a paper in which he outlined that deprivation was relative and that an individual/household was likely to be experiencing this if they were unable to fully participate in what had become seen as customary activities within society.
At present, the need to tackle long-standing pakistan rcs data economic and social inequalities between/within regions of the UK has led to this issue being at the forefront of objectives set by governments across all four nations.
Of course, devising effective interventions requires data that can enable researchers and policymakers to accurately identify those areas experiencing higher levels of deprivation. As Townsend himself acknowledged, this was not a straight forward task.
How do we capture deprivation through data?
Currently, the primary data source used to examine this (Households Below Average Income) is based on the Family Resources Survey in which respondents will be asked questions relating to (material) deprivation, such as whether they can afford to go on holiday once a year or repair broken goods within their home. The main problem with this is that a survey will not offer sufficient coverage of all parts of the UK.
At present, the need to tackle long-standing pakistan rcs data economic and social inequalities between/within regions of the UK has led to this issue being at the forefront of objectives set by governments across all four nations.
Of course, devising effective interventions requires data that can enable researchers and policymakers to accurately identify those areas experiencing higher levels of deprivation. As Townsend himself acknowledged, this was not a straight forward task.
How do we capture deprivation through data?
Currently, the primary data source used to examine this (Households Below Average Income) is based on the Family Resources Survey in which respondents will be asked questions relating to (material) deprivation, such as whether they can afford to go on holiday once a year or repair broken goods within their home. The main problem with this is that a survey will not offer sufficient coverage of all parts of the UK.