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Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study
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About Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study
Author Details
Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry (2001)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study, developed by Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry in 2001, is a dual-report questionnaire designed to measure the extent to which children and their caregivers feel comfortable and engaged in their neighborhoods. Targeting youths initially in grades 6 and 8 (ages 11-14) in 1990, with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood, and their primary caregivers in urban settings, the scale was part of the Chicago Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for urban youth. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and social disorganization theory (Shaw & McKay, 1942), assessing how community engagement serves as a protective factor against delinquency and promotes positive development.
The scale comprises 8 items per version (youth and caregiver), divided into two subscales: youth involvement (e.g., participation in neighborhood activities) and caregiver involvement (e.g., interaction with neighbors). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “never” to 4 = “often”). Scores are summed per subscale (range: 4-16 each), with higher scores indicating greater comfort and engagement. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess community connectedness, predict behavioral outcomes, and inform community-based interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate youth and caregiver community engagement, study protective factors, and design prevention programs. Its dual-report format is a strength, but low to moderate internal consistency and English-only availability limit reliability and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or Chicago Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses comfort and engagement in the neighborhood to support youth and family well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking youths and caregivers to rate the frequency of their involvement in neighborhood activities over the past month, using the 4-point scale. Administer both versions separately to capture perspectives.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes per respondent, given the 8-item format.
- Administer in a school, home, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for youths with reading difficulties or caregivers as needed.
Reliability and Validity
The Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study has moderate to low psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is low for youth involvement (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.49) and moderate for caregiver involvement (α = 0.62), indicating limited item cohesion, likely due to the small number of items and variability in perceptions. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar community measures (r ≈ 0.50-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as reduced delinquency (r ≈ -0.15 to -0.35) and increased social support (r ≈ 0.20-0.40). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in predicting positive behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the two-subscale structure (youth and caregiver involvement) supports construct validity. The low to moderate reliability suggests cautious use, ideally paired with validated measures like the Collective Efficacy scale (Sampson et al., 1997).
Available Versions
04-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Community Involvement – Chicago Youth Development Study measure?
It measures youth and caregiver comfort and engagement in their neighborhoods.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying youths and caregivers.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes per respondent.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban youths in grades 6 and 8 and their caregivers.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but low to moderate reliability (α = 0.49-0.62) suggests use with validated measures.
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