Evaluation and Measurement of Social Welfare Indicators in the Urban Planning Process: A Case Study of Urmia City
Subject Areas : Urban policySadegh Barzegar 1 * , Ali Motahari 2 , Mohammad Rasoli 3 , Ahmad Mam Sharifi 4
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Ph.D. in Geography and Urban Planning, Instructor, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Ph.D. student in Social Sciences research, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Urban Planning, Social Welfare, Citizen Satisfaction, SPSS, Urmia City,
Abstract :
The primary objective of urban planning is to ensure the social welfare of citizens, as welfare represents one of the most fundamental social needs that every individual in a society must enjoy. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating and measuring social welfare indicators within the urban planning process. This research is applied-developmental in nature, employing both documentary and survey methods. The statistical population comprises the citizens of Urmia, and the sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula based on proportional stratified random sampling across the city’s five municipal regions. Data were collected through a questionnaire, while descriptive and inferential statistical analyses—including one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and path analysis—were performed using SPSS and Excel software. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was utilized for mapping purposes. The findings reveal that the contribution of the examined dimensions to explaining social welfare indicators is neither uniform nor unidirectional. Standardized coefficients indicate positive correlations among the dimensions of urban environmental quality, economic conditions, mental health, physical health, and ultimately social health. Among these, mental health exhibits the strongest explanatory power, with an impact coefficient of 0.515, surpassing all other dimensions in influencing citizens’ social welfare development. Region 5 ranks highest in this regard, whereas Region 4 records the lowest. Furthermore, results demonstrate that the average satisfaction level of Urmia citizens with social welfare indicators falls below the moderate threshold, underscoring the urgent need for serious attention from urban and regional managers and planners.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
One of the emerging trends that has had a profound impact on the process of transforming urban planning perspectives and methods in the second half of the twentieth century is the social and qualitative theories of development, which have been concretely manifested in concepts such as quality of life, social welfare, and the like. Social welfare became one of the topics of interest in the social sciences from the 1960s onward, as it became clear during this decade that economic growth and development do not necessarily lead to an improvement in the lives of a country's people. Scientific studies have shown that the relationship between economic progress and quality of life is not linear; the two move in alignment and in the same direction up to a certain point, which is the point where the minimum desirable material conditions for human existence are provided. However, beyond this point, one cannot expect that meeting economic needs will contribute to improving quality of life, because humans are multidimensional and complex beings, and economic logic cannot explain many of their behaviors.
Methodology
The research is of an applied-developmental nature, employing documentary and survey methods. The statistical population consists of the citizens of Urmia, with the sample size determined using Cochran's formula and proportional stratified random sampling for each of the city's five municipal regions. Data were collected via questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics—including one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and path analysis—in SPSS and Excel software environments. GIS software was utilized for map generation.
Results and Discussion
The examination of the research findings reveals that the extent of all investigated dimensions (environmental health, social health, physical and mental health, economic, and environmental quality) in explaining social welfare is neither uniform nor unidirectional. Among these, direct relationships exist between urban environmental quality, the economic dimension, mental health, physical health, and finally social health with the development of citizens' social welfare. Among these dimensions, the psychological dimension, with an impact coefficient of 0.515, exhibits greater influence and explanatory power compared to the other dimensions examined in the development of citizens' social welfare.
Conclusion
The research results indicate that, in terms of urban environmental quality (Region 1 ranked first and Region 2 last), the economic dimension (Region 1 ranked first and Region 2 last), mental health (Regions 1 and 5 ranked first and Region 4 last), physical health (Region 1 ranked first and Region 3 last), and finally social health (Region 1 with the highest score of 3.44 ranked first and Region 4 with the lowest score ranked last), significant disparities exist. These findings necessitate serious attention from urban managers and planners to reconsider the redistribution of facilities and services across the various regions of Urmia. Such measures are essential to achieve balance in urban development and, consequently, enhance quality of life and social welfare.
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