The Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators, first published in 2000 in book format, are the result of an extensive six-year study by a multi-disciplinary group of practitioners and scholars from government agencies, for-profit firms, and nonprofit organizations who see the need for more practical and sophisticated metrics of societal conditions. The publication of the book, often referred to as the Calvert-Henderson 'technical manual,' represented the first national, comprehensive effort to redefine overall quality of life using a systems approach.

This section of the Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life web site provides detailed information on how the Indicators were developed:

• Introduction to the Technical Manual
• Research Methodology
• Models
• Editors of the Technical Manual
• Contributors to the Technical Manual
• References

This information is also available in the technical manual, which is available for purchase (see 'order the book' to the left). We are delighted that so many copies have been ordered in the USA by local officials and politicians to use as a 'recipe book' to construct local quality-of-life indicators for towns and states across the country. We have done the 'intellectual ditch-digging,' and we invite you to use our model, adapt or expand it for your unique community needs. Keep contacting us with your thoughts and suggestions.