Psychology RootsPerceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Perceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study”. 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 Perceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Perceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study
Author Details
Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry (2001)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Perceived Community Problems – 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 youth and their caregivers perceive negative qualities as problems in their communities, such as unkept front yards, vacant lots, noise, and vandalism. 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 social disorganization theory (Shaw & McKay, 1942), assessing how perceived community issues contribute to youth behavior and well-being.
The scale comprises 10 items per version (youth and caregiver), divided into two subscales: youth perceptions (e.g., “Vacant lots are a problem in my neighborhood”) and caregiver perceptions (e.g., “Vandalism is a problem in my community”). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “not a problem” to 4 = “a serious problem”). Scores are summed per subscale (range: 10-40 each), with higher scores indicating greater perceived community problems. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess neighborhood risk factors, predict delinquency, and inform community-based interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate youth and caregiver perceptions of community issues, study risk factors, and design prevention programs. Its dual-report format and good reliability 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 Chicago Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses perceptions of negative community qualities 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 severity of community problems over the past month, using the 4-point scale. Administer both versions separately to capture perspectives.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-4 minutes per respondent, given the 10-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 Perceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study demonstrates good psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is good, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78 for youth perceptions and 0.84 for caregiver perceptions, indicating reliable item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar community 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 community engagement (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 two-subscale structure (youth and caregiver perceptions) supports construct validity. The good reliability makes it robust, though pairing with other measures (e.g., Neighborhood Disorganization, Thornberry et al., 2003) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
14-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 Perceived Community Problems – Chicago Youth Development Study measure?
It measures youth and caregiver perceptions of negative qualities (e.g., vandalism, noise) in their communities.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying urban youths and caregivers.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-4 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, it supports interventions with good reliability (α = 0.78-0.84).
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 [email protected]. We help others on behalf of you.
