1. Presenters: Carol Saccaggi & Graham du Plessis
Exploring the conceptualizing of citizenship in a South African context using Rasch modelling
Presenters:
Carol Saccaggi
&
Graham du Plessis

2. Hector Pieterson & Sam Nzima
1976 Apartheid South Africa
School children riot in Soweto and police open fire
Image of a wounded Hector Pieterson becomes part of struggle history
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

3. Understanding Citizenship
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

4. The SA context Post-Apartheid South Africa – The “rainbow nation”?
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

5. Citizenship in psychology
Citizenship as a trait rather than as a political status
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

6. Citizenship in Positive Psychology
A character strength
Strengths are measurable, universal and morally valued across cultures
CONSENSUAL DEFINITION
“ a strong sense of duty, works for the good of the group rather than for personal gain, is loyal to friends, and can be trusted to pull his or her weight. He or she is a good teammate. A generative spirit and sense of responsibility for the community …” (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, p. 369)
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

7. Research Question/ Methodology
Are there differences in the way in which different groups in South Africa conceptualise citizenship?
Sample of 900 students from a large South African university
Administration of adapted Citizenship scale (VIA)
Scale characteristics examined
Items examined for DIF (gender, ethnic group, language)
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

8. Scale Items Do not miss group meetings or team practices.
Enjoy being part of a group.
Support my teammates or fellow group members.
Feel I must respect the decisions made by my group.
Am not good at working with a group. (R)
Prefer to do everything alone. (R)
Work best when I am alone. (R)
Keep to myself. (R)
Do not think it’s important to socialize with others. (R)
Am an extremely loyal person.
Do not talk badly to outsiders about my own group.
Must try to maintain peace within my group.
Lose respect for leaders if I disagree with them.
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

9. Results – Sample characteristics
Ethnicity
Number
Percentage
Black
630
70%
Coloured 59
6.56%
Indian 47
5.22%
White
164
18.22%
900
100%
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

10. Results – Dif for Gender
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

11. RESULTS – Dif for Language
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

12. RESULTS – Dif for Ethnicity
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

13. RESULTS – Dif for Ethnicity
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

14. Discussion 10. Am an extremely loyal person.
Only 1 item has DIF for gender, no items DIF for Language
Multiple items have DIF for ethnicity, especially when using only Black and White groups
Following items show DIF:
1. Do not miss group meetings or team practices.
8. Keep to myself. (R)
10. Am an extremely loyal person.
11. Do not talk badly to outsiders about my own group.
13. Lose respect for leaders if I disagree with them.
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

15. Conclusion
There appear to be differences in the way in which Black and White South Africans conceptualise citizenship.
This has implications for the way in which citizenship is understood and measured in South Africa.
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg

16. References
Barnes, R., Auburn, Y., & Lea, S. (2004). Citizenship in practice. British Journal of Social Psychology, 43, doi: /
Coetzee, S. & Viviers, R. (2007). An overview of research on positive psychology in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychology, 37(3),
Comaroff, J. & Comaroff, J. (2003). Reflections on liberalism, policulturalism, and ID-ology: Citizenship and difference in South Africa. Social Identities, 9(4), doi: /
Eaton, L., & Louw, J. (2000). Culture and self in South Africa: Individualism-collectivism predictions. Journal of Social Psychology, 140, doi: /
Hamilton, L. (2009). (I’ve never met) a nice South African: Virtuous citizenship and popular sovereignty. Theoria, June, doi: /th
Peterson, C. & Seligman, M. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Swartz, S. (2006). A long walk to citizenship: Morality, justice and faith in the aftermath of apartheid. Journal of Moral Education, 35(4), doi: /
Van Eeden, C., & Wissing, M. P. (2008). Karaktersterktes herontdek in die sielkunde [Character strengths rediscovered in psychology]. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 48(1),
Carol Saccaggi & Graham d u Plessis - University of Johannesburg