SoC and belonging SOC Research and Measurement Discuss SoC and belonging in the forums; Hello, I am a doctoral student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA studying international extension education. I am interested in researching the percpeptions of "sense of belonging" among ...

[allisonb]

Hello,

I am a doctoral student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA studying international extension education. I am interested in researching the percpeptions of "sense of belonging" among youth populations of the world - and how their perceptions differ, affect their overall sense of connectedness to their particular community (organization, school, town, different realms, etc.), and how increased "sense of belonging in community" affects quality of life through times of transition (i.e. engagement, intervention, motivation, prevention, resilience, retention, success rates, etc.).

Please share your thoughts in conducting international "sense of belonging" research among adolescent populations using the SCI-2.

Thanks,
Allison

[dchavis]

Hi!

Thanks for posting on the forum. The SCI-2 is relatively new and I don't know anyone who is using it with that age group. Grace Pretty at the University of Southern Queensland has conducted research on sense of community among youth.

I don't know if the reading level of the SCI-2 is appropriate for young children.

What are your thoughts about how it should be adapted?

David

[allisonb]

David,

I presented the instrument to fellow classmates in our program yesterday, and they were very impressed. The consensus among the group is that wording may have to be changed in a few places, but overall the instrument would be legible and presentable to high school youth. In the place of community, I would put the name of the organization or particular chapter that perceptions of belonging as a result of participation is being researched. For example, #1 - "Important needs of mine are met because I am a part of this club."

Thanks,
Allison

[dchavis]

Glad you are getting good feedback on it. Changing the referent (i.e. community to club) is okay. The planned way to use it was in the instructions to tell people when referring to community, please think of...

Please be cautious of other changes because too much makes it a different question or instrument and then the comparability with other research is questionable. Even if you think it makes it a better question, that may make it a different question(s).


Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

David