Description

The Sense of Community Index 2 (SCI-23) is a revised psychometric instrument designed to assess the degree of sense of community experienced by individuals within a group or social environment.

The instrument is based on the theoretical framework of McMillan and Chavis (1986), which conceptualizes sense of community through four fundamental dimensions: membership, influence, integration and fulfilment of needs, and shared emotional connection.

The SCI-23 evaluates individuals’ perceptions of belonging, participation, connection, and social cohesion within a community context.

Objective

The primary objective of the SCI-23 is to identify and quantify the level of sense of community within a group.

The scale allows researchers, social scientists, and policymakers to understand how individuals perceive their community and how these perceptions influence:

Social participation.

Behavioural engagement.

Psychological well-being.

The instrument can also help identify areas requiring improvement and support the development of strategies aimed at strengthening community relationships and cohesion.

Structure and Content

The SCI-23 examines the four main dimensions of sense of community:

Membership, referring to the feeling of belonging, acceptance, and identification with the community.

Influence, referring to the relationship between individual participation and the ability to affect community processes.

Integration and Fulfilment of Needs, referring to the extent to which the community provides support and satisfies members’ needs.

Shared Emotional Connection, referring to emotional bonds, shared experiences, and interpersonal attachment among community members.

Scoring Method

The SCI-23 uses a Likert-type response scale, usually ranging from 1 to 5, where:

1 represents the lowest level of agreement or positive community perception

and

5 represents the highest level of agreement or positive community perception.

Responses can be analysed both as an overall score and according to each individual dimension, allowing researchers to evaluate general community sense as well as specific strengths and weaknesses.

Higher scores indicate stronger feelings of belonging, participation, and community connection.

Data Analysis and Use

The analysis of SCI-23 data includes scoring participants’ responses and examining both total and dimensional scores.

The results can be used for:

Comparative studies between different communities.

Evaluation of interventions designed to improve community sense.

Identification of factors that strengthen or weaken social cohesion.

Assessment of relationships between community belonging and psychosocial outcomes.

Statistical analysis may include:

Descriptive statistics for evaluating overall levels of community sense.

Reliability analysis using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

Confirmatory or exploratory factor analysis for examining the structural validity of the instrument.

Correlation analysis with related psychosocial variables.

Comparative analyses between different populations or community settings.

Validity

The validity of the SCI-23 is based on the theoretical model of sense of community proposed by McMillan and Chavis.

Structural validity is examined through factor analysis procedures, confirming the dimensions assessed by the instrument.

Comparative analyses with other measures of community sense and related psychosocial constructs can further support the validity of the scale.

Reliability

Reliability assessment of the SCI-23 includes examination of the internal consistency of items using statistical indicators such as Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

Proper calibration ensures that the SCI-23 provides a reliable and valid measurement of sense of community across different contexts and populations.

Applications

The SCI-23 can be applied in:

Community psychology research.

Social cohesion studies.

Neighbourhood and local community assessment.

Educational and school community research.

Evaluation of community development programs.

Studies examining belonging, participation, and collective well-being.

References

McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 6–23.

Chavis, D. M., Hogge, J. H., McMillan, D. W., & Wandersman, A. (1986). Sense of Community Through Brunswik’s Lens: A First Look. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 24–40.

Chavis, D. M., & Pretty, G. (1999). Sense of Community: Advances in Measurement and Application. Journal of Community Psychology, 27(6), 635–642.

Chavis, D. M., Lee, K. S., & Acosta, J. D. (2008). The Sense of Community (SCI) Revised: The Reliability and Validity of the SCI-2. Paper presented at the 2nd International Community Psychology Conference, Lisboa, Portugal.