Scales of Practices and Outcomes for Community‐Engaged Research

• Published in: American journal of community psychology Vol. 67; no. 3-4; pp. 256 - 270
• Main Authors: Boursaw, Blake, Oetzel, John G., Dickson, Elizabeth, Thein, Thomas S., Sanchez‐Youngman, Shannon, Peña, Juan, Parker, Myra, Magarati, Maya, Littledeer, Lenora, Duran, Bonnie, Wallerstein, Nina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Science Ltd 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Community research; Community‐based participatory research; Community‐engaged research; Confirmatory factor analysis; Empowerment; Measurement; Participatory research; Polls & surveys; Psychometrics; Quantitative psychology; Community-based participatory research; Measurement; Community-engaged research; Psychometrics; Empowerment
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12503

Despite the growth of research on community‐engaged research (CEnR), recent reviews suggest there has been limited development of validated scales to measure key contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes, impairing testing and refinement of theoretical models. The purpose of this study is to present the psychometric properties of scales from the Engage for Equity (E2) project, stemming from a long‐term research partnership examining community‐engaged research projects. This study used a three‐stage, cross‐sectional format: (a) a sampling frame of 413 CEnR projects was identified; (b) 210 principal investigators completed a project‐level survey and nominated partners for another survey; (c) 457 investigators and partners completed a survey about project contexts, processes, interventions, and outcomes. Factorial validity was established through confirmatory factor analysis supporting seven scales: contextual capacity, commitment to collective empowerment, relationships, community engagement in research actions, synergy, partner and partnership transformation, and projected outcomes. Convergent validity was established through examining covariances among the scales. This study largely yielded results consistent with a previous psychometric study of related measures, while demonstrating improved ceiling effects of the items and refined conceptualization of core theoretical constructs. Highlights Validation of seven scales of practices and outcomes across four CBPR Model domains. Validated scales include seven novel subscales while also showing consistency with prior work. Results suggest Commitment to Collective Empowerment as a key driver of CPBR/CEnR.