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Neighborhood Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project
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About Neighborhood Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project
Scale Name
Neighborhood Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project
Author Details
Michael W. Arthur, J. David Hawkins, John A. Pollard, Richard F. Catalano, and A. J. Baglioni Jr. (2002)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Neighborhood Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project, developed by Michael W. Arthur, J. David Hawkins, John A. Pollard, Richard F. Catalano, and A. J. Baglioni Jr. in 2002, is a youth-report questionnaire designed to measure students’ perceptions of crime, fighting, physical deterioration, and safety in their communities. Targeting students aged 11-18 (grades 6-12) in urban settings, the scale was part of the Seattle Social Development Project, a longitudinal study focused on identifying risk and protective factors for youth problem behaviors. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social disorganization theory (Shaw & McKay, 1942), assessing how perceived neighborhood disorder influences youth behavior and well-being.
The scale comprises 8 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “not at all true” to 4 = “very true”). Examples include “There is a lot of fighting in my neighborhood” and “My neighborhood feels unsafe.” Scores are summed (range: 8-32), with higher scores indicating greater perceived disorganization. Validated in diverse urban youth samples, it is used to assess neighborhood risk factors, predict delinquency, and inform community-based prevention programs.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the scale to evaluate youth perceptions of neighborhood conditions, study risk factors for problem behaviors, and design interventions. Its good reliability and youth perspective are strengths, though its English-only availability and youth-only focus may limit cross-cultural use and comprehensive assessment.
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 Seattle Social Development Project publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses perceptions of neighborhood crime, deterioration, and safety to support youth well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate their agreement with statements about neighborhood conditions over the past month, using the 4-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes, given the 8-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Neighborhood Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project demonstrates good psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is good, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79, indicating reliable item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar disorganization measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased delinquency (r ≈ 0.20-0.40) and reduced prosocial behavior (r ≈ -0.15 to -0.35). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict adverse behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on disorganization supports construct validity. The good reliability makes it robust, though pairing with adult-reported measures (e.g., Neighborhood Disorganization, Thornberry et al., 2003) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
05-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 Disorganization – Seattle Social Development Project measure?
It measures students’ perceptions of crime, fighting, physical deterioration, and safety in their communities.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers studying students aged 11-18.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban students aged 11-18.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports interventions with good reliability (α = 0.79).
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