Defending Dignity A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 4.5.4. How many indicators to use There is no right answer when deciding on whether to use a focused or a broad approach to selecting indicators. The scope of the monitoring activity will determine the depth of analysis that it is desirable (and possible) to undertake. For example, selecting fewer indicators will allow a deeper analysis of those particular issues. Including multiple indicators will give a broader but more general overview of the issues being studied. However, this may be a more useful approach for an overall audit of the ESCR situation across the country. 4.6. IN PRACTICE: IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITISING INDICATORS As discussed, there are various sources of indicators that can inform your monitoring activity. They are generally comparative, negotiated or recommended. It is important to select appropriate indicators that are clearly defined, capable of being measured and relevant and legitimate in the eyes of rights holders. Consulting with rights holders, government stakeholders and other experts can be very helpful in selecting the most appropriate indicators. Regardless of how you decide to select indicators, it is crucial that they help you answer the research questions you identified through the problem mapping exercise. Add your proposed indicators to the “evidence needed” column of your activity planning table and check them against the research questions column to ensure the two are closely linked. Mother and infant son in front of their family ger in Tuv Province, Mongolia. Photo by Khasar Sandag/World Bank, reproduced under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license. 50