Association for the Study and Development of Community The Sense of Community (SCI) Index Revised: The Reliability and the Validity of the SCI-2 David M. Chavis & Kien Lee Association for the Study and Development of Community Joie Acosta RAND Corporation Washington, DC

Association for the Study and Development of Community Background The 12-item SCI is theory based Short and easy to administer It has had adequate reliability and strong validity. Relations established with behaviors, community conditions, and psychological well being Has been used successfully cross culturally

Concerns Subscales have inconsistent reliability The true-false response set has limited variability. Its adequacy as a cross-cultural measure has been questioned. Not easily adaptable across settings Did not reflect more recent research findings Association for the Study and Development of Community

SCI-2 ASDC research team created SCI-2, which covered the same attributes in the original theory, plus recent findings. SCI-2 has 24 items and a likert-like scale (0=not at all, 1=somewhat, 2=mostly, 3=completely). Original draft was piloted with 36 people in seven different cultural and organizational settings in Maryland and Hawaii. Pilot-test participants were asked to answer the questions with a certain setting in mind. Strong reliability was found. (.944, n=36) Some item statements were rephrased based on piloting study participant suggestions.

Association for the Study and Development of Community SCI-2 Items Reinforcement of needs –I get important needs of mine met because I am part of this community. –Community members and I value the same things. –This community has been successful in getting the needs of its members met. –Being a member of this community makes me feel good. –When I have a problem, I can talk about it with members of this community. –People in this community have similar needs, priorities, and goals.

Association for the Study and Development of Community SCI-2 Items (cont’d) Membership –I can trust people in this community. –I can recognize most of the members of this community. –Most community members know me. –This community has symbols and expressions of membership such as clothes, signs, art, architecture, logos, landmarks, and flags that people can recognize. –I put a lot of time and effort into being part of this community. –Being a member of this community is a part of my identity.

Association for the Study and Development of Community SCI-2 Items (cont’d) Influence –Fitting into this community is important to me. –This community can influence other communities. –I care about what other community members think of me. –I have influence over what this community is like. –If there is a problem in this community, members can get it solved. –This community has good leaders.

Association for the Study and Development of Community SCI-2 Items (cont’d) Shared emotional connection –It is very important to me to be a part of this community. –I am with other community members a lot and enjoy being with them. –I expect to be a part of this community for a long time. –Members of this community have shared important events together, such as holidays, celebrations, or disasters. –I feel hopeful about the future of this community. –Members of this community care about each other.

Association for the Study and Development of Community Testing of SCI-2 1,800 immigrants and receiving community members in 19 geographic areas across Colorado state, selected using a a stratified snowball sampling method. Participants were given a $15 gift card. Trained and bilingual interviewers administered the questionnaire. Questionnaire was on optical scan form available in English and Spanish languages. Setting where immigrants and receiving community members most frequently interacted was the referent.

Association for the Study and Development of Community Sample A 88.5 % response rate (1,594 people [753 immigrants and 841 receiving community members]). Immigrants were primarily people who self-identified as Mexican or Hispanic/Latino and Spanish-speaking or bilingual; majority 34 years old and younger. Receiving community members were primarily people who self-identified as American and Hispanic/Latino; majority 35 years old and older.

Association for the Study and Development of Community Results Common Immigrant-Receiving Community Settings Immigrant % Receiving Community % Workplace Neighborhood Difference between average SCI-2 score for immigrant and receiving community (38.8 vs. 37.4) ( p < 0.05)

Association for the Study and Development of Community Reliability of SCI-2 Receiving Community Immigrant  =.946  =.938  =.940

Association for the Study and Development of Community Validity of SCI-2 The validity of the SCI-2 was determined by its relationship to Life satisfaction Civic and political participation Cultural and community participation

Association for the Study and Development of Community Validity of SCI-2 Correlation with life satisfaction.320 (p <.01 level, 2-tailed) Correlation with civic and political participation.315 (p <.01 level, 2-tailed) Correlation with cultural and social participation.381 (p <.01 level, 2-tailed)

Association for the Study and Development of Community Conclusion SCI-2 appears to be reliable and valid across cultures, languages, and settings. Where to download?