Be Wary of What's Coming from the West: Globalisation and the Implications for Measurement in the Human Sciences

Abstract

This work draws together material from three bodies of knowledge with a demonstrable yet rarely explored synergy. These are conceptions of well-being and public good, features of globalisation and neo-liberalism, and the principles and practises of contemporary measurement, the application of the Rasch Model. The stimulus for the analysis was the function of the Pacific Rim Objective Measurement Society (PROMS). According to the PROMS Constitution, the mission of PROMS is to contribute to individual, community, and societal well-being and the public good in the Pacific region. This will be realised by application of Rasch Model measurement to understand the progress and impact of developments in areas such as communication technologies, educational reform, health provision, and welfare delivery. However, this understanding also needs to take into account the influence on these developments of the globalisation agendas of governments and multinational corporations. This paper maps out some ways for Rasch measurement to contribute to the improvement of people’s lives and to maximise the benefits of globalisation.