Description of the Scale

The American and Puerto Rican Cultural Involvement Scales (APRCIS-18) is a tool designed to assess cultural involvement and identity among Americans and Puerto Ricans. This scale examines the degree of participation and identification with the cultural traditions and values of both cultures.

The APRCIS-18 consists of 18 questions, divided into two main subscales, which evaluate cultural involvement in both American and Puerto Rican cultures. The questions use a Likert scale to measure the level of agreement or disagreement of participants with the statements provided.

Data Analysis and Usage

The analysis of data from the APRCIS-18 involves quantitative techniques to evaluate the scores and understand participants’ cultural involvement. This typically includes:

Descriptive Statistics:Means and Standard Deviations: Calculation of mean scores and standard deviations for each question or subscale of the index.

Reliability: Assessment of the internal consistency of the tool, usually through Cronbach’s alpha, to determine the reliability of the results.

Correlations:Examination of correlations between scores on different questions or subscales to understand the relationship between involvement in American and Puerto Rican cultures.

Factor Analysis:Use of factor analyses to identify the key factors influencing cultural involvement and identity, if necessary.

Purpose

The primary aim of the APRCIS-18 is to provide an objective tool for assessing cultural involvement and identity in both American and Puerto Rican cultures. It can be used for:

Research Purposes: Examining the relationships between cultural involvement and other psychological or social variables.

Clinical Assessment: Evaluating cultural identity and the need for support for individuals balancing between the two cultures.

Cultural Understanding: Understanding how Americans and Puerto Ricans integrate and combine their cultural characteristics.

Calibration

The calibration of the APRCIS-18 involves analyzing the data obtained from using the scale, including:

Internal Consistency Assessment: Calculation of the tool’s reliability, such as Cronbach’s alpha.

Comparative Analysis: Comparing results with other studies or research data to confirm the validity of the scale.

Bibliography

Rogler, L. H., & Cortes, D. E. (1993). Acculturation and Mental Health among Puerto Ricans: An Integrative Review. Journal of Social Issues, 49(3), 1-28.

O’Reilly, K., & Reynolds, L. (2008). Ethnic Identity and Cultural Involvement: A Comparative Study of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans in the U.S. In Cultural Perspectives on Identity and Social Change. Cambridge University Press.

Phinney, J. S. (1990). Ethnic Identity in Adolescents and Adults: Review of Research. Psychological Bulletin, 108(3), 499-514.