Measuring and Understanding Complex Phenomena. Indicators and their Analysis in Different Scientific Fields

The topic of indicators has been and continues to be considered a “niche field” in the methodological scientific debate. However, during the last decades, this issue has been discussed in any conference, workshop and seminar on measuring socioeconomic dimensions. This is not a specific issue of the natural and social sciences. Indicators are used and constructed everywhere and their functions in contemporary societies are widespread. We can observe their increasing importance also in the media and in the public debate. Governments and international organizations use them to compare and rank countries on some particular topics, like quality of life, wellbeing or sustainability.