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Purpose ' The purpose of this paper is to explain and demonstrate the importance and usefulness of mixing qualitative and quantitative approaches in participatory residential sustainability policy and practice.Design/methodology/approach ' The approach uses a theoretical model, developed through engagements with cultural and political sociology, to inform participatory engagement in selecting 'indicators' of urban residential sustainability.Findings ' If they are to influence policy and practice effectively, quantitative indicators of sustainability need to be subjected to dialogical negotiation and deliberation aimed at establishing qualitative assessment of the problem.Originality/value ' Recognizing as foundational the need to negotiate the terms on which the task of achieving sustainability is implemented, the approach links 'natural' with 'social' scientific endeavour in a policy'oriented and practical approach to binding together quantitative with qualitative 'indicators' of sustainability.