Secondary Data Analysis for Constructing a Longitudinal Global Well-being Index: Methodological Challenges in the Second Wave of the World Love Index

The case study concerns a research project that aims to develop a transnational and longitudinal index of social well-being using secondary data analysis. The World Love Index is currently in its second wave and measures individuals’ and institutions’ capacity to care for others and the environment. Many methodological challenges have been faced in constructing the World Love Index: using and integrating open and non-open data sources, giving continuity from the first to the second wave of the index, and guaranteeing data quality while finding indicators and their validation procedures. This paper presents the challenges and the solutions based on a process research group to overcome the problems and transform them into opportunities.