text: good quality of life and improved general welfare are synonymous with development indicators. 13. The second refinement places relatively greater importance on the advancement of social models which relate socio-psychological, demogrf hic, behavioural and other variables to the process of social change. Social statistics can be aggregated or disaggregated to be appro­ priate to the level of sophistication of a formulated model. 14. In contrast to the above value-loaded definition of social indi­ cators, Professor Richard Stone defines social indicators as relating to 5 Raymond A. Bauer, "Detection and anticipation of impact: the nature of the task", R.A. Bauer, ed., Social Indicators (Cambridge, MIT Press, 1966) p. 1. 6 President's Research Committee on Social Trends, Recent Soda/ Trends (New York, McGraw-Hill, 1933). 7 Nake E. Karmrary and Alexander Chr~takis, "Social indicators in Pers­ pective", Socio-economic Planning Sciences, vol. 1, No. 4, June 1970, p. 208; M. Olson, Jr., "An agenda for the development of measures of progress of a racial or ethnic group", Working Paper, United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1968, p. 6. 8 Nancy Baster, ed., op cit.; and Kenneth C. Land, "Social indicators", Robert B. Smith, ed., Social Science Methods (New York, The Free Press, 1970). 38 some area of social concern that may serve the purpose of curiosity, understanding or action.9 Although this definition of social indicators is value-free and flexible, it lacks specification and is too general. Any indicator or statistic in an area of social concern worth discussing would arouse curiosity, promote understanding, or could lead to action. There­ fore, any social statistic could be a social indicator. 15. From the diverging attempts to define social indicators described above, it is extremely difficult to synthesize a single definition of social indicators, and certainly would be beyond the capability of this author. 
analysis: The text discusses social indicators, which are used to measure social welfare and development. It highlights the importance of understanding social change and the need for indicators that can be used to track progress. The definition of social indicators is debated, with some emphasizing their relationship to development indicators and others viewing them as value-free statistics that can be used to understand or act on social concerns.