Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Neighborhood/Block Conditions
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Neighborhood/Block Conditions”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Neighborhood/Block Conditions
Scale Name
Neighborhood/Block Conditions
Author Details
Douglas D. Perkins, Paul Florin, and David M. Rich (1990), adapted by the Houston Community Demonstration Project (1993)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Neighborhood/Block Conditions scale, originally developed by Douglas D. Perkins, Paul Florin, and David M. Rich in 1990 and adapted by the Houston Community Demonstration Project in 1993, is a resident-report questionnaire designed to measure urban residents’ perceptions of neighborhood conditions, including the severity of problems (e.g., crime, vandalism) and sense of safety. Targeting urban residents aged 18 and older, the scale assesses how perceived environmental and social conditions impact community well-being. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social disorganization theory (Shaw & McKay, 1942) and social capital theory (Coleman, 1988), evaluating neighborhood factors that influence safety and community cohesion.
The scale comprises 12 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “strongly disagree” to 5 = “strongly agree”). Examples include “My neighborhood has serious crime problems” and “I feel safe walking in my neighborhood at night.” Scores are summed (range: 12-60), with higher scores indicating greater perceived problems or lower safety. Validated in urban adult samples, it is used to assess neighborhood risk factors, predict community engagement, and inform community-based interventions.
Psychologists, sociologists, and public health researchers use the scale to evaluate perceptions of neighborhood conditions, study risk and protective factors, and design community programs. Its excellent reliability and comprehensive coverage of conditions are strengths, though its English-only availability may limit 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 Houston Community Demonstration Project publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses perceptions of neighborhood problems and safety to support community well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using clear, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking residents to rate their agreement with statements about neighborhood conditions over the past month, using the 5-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 4-5 minutes, given the 12-item format.
- Administer in a community, household, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for residents with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Neighborhood/Block Conditions scale demonstrates excellent psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is high, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.90, indicating strong item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate to high based on similar neighborhood measures (r ≈ 0.65-0.85 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased neighborhood crime (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and reduced community cohesion (r ≈ -0.20 to -0.40). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like individual socioeconomic status (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict community outcomes in urban studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s focus on problems and safety supports construct validity. The high reliability makes it robust, though pairing with youth-reported measures (e.g., Neighborhood Disorganization, Arthur et al., 2002) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
13-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 Neighborhood/Block Conditions scale measure?
It measures residents’ perceptions of neighborhood problems and safety.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, sociologists, and public health researchers studying urban residents aged 18+.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 4-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban residents aged 18 and older.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports interventions with excellent reliability (α = 0.90).
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
