virginia polytechnic institute and state university 1 engagement, participation, and community...

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1

Engagement, Participation, and Engagement, Participation, and Community Efficacy: Insights Into Community Efficacy: Insights Into

Social OrganizationSocial Organization

Jay A. Mancini, Gary L. Bowen, William B. Ware, Jay A. Mancini, Gary L. Bowen, William B. Ware, and James A. Martinand James A. Martin

Presented at the Hawaii International Conference on thePresented at the Hawaii International Conference on theSocial SciencesSocial Sciences

Honolulu, May 2007Honolulu, May 2007


Background and Purpose Background and Purpose

Theory development projectTheory development project Since 2000 concerned with building capacity Since 2000 concerned with building capacity

of communities to reach desired resultsof communities to reach desired results Initiated with focus on observing military Initiated with focus on observing military

family communitiesfamily communities– 2000 community capacity model2000 community capacity model

More recently expanded to community social More recently expanded to community social organizationorganization– Community capacity, network structures, and Community capacity, network structures, and

social capitalsocial capital


Background and PurposeBackground and Purpose

Hawaii conference presentationHawaii conference presentation Elaboration of social organization theory elements Elaboration of social organization theory elements

(efficacy, engagement, participation)(efficacy, engagement, participation)– Particular attention to effects of group membership on how Particular attention to effects of group membership on how

efficacy relates to engagement and participation efficacy relates to engagement and participation – Research questions:Research questions:

Does engagement and participation contribute to community Does engagement and participation contribute to community efficacy? Are there unique contributions?efficacy? Are there unique contributions?

Are these relationships associated with individual and social Are these relationships associated with individual and social characteristics?characteristics?

Analysis of 2002 survey of 769 VirginiansAnalysis of 2002 survey of 769 Virginians– Grounded in Community Connections IndexGrounded in Community Connections Index– Focus on engagement, participation, and community efficacyFocus on engagement, participation, and community efficacy– Effects of moderators: Gender, age, education, marital Effects of moderators: Gender, age, education, marital

status, income, and location of residencestatus, income, and location of residence


Families and CommunitiesFamilies and Communities

2005 issue (December) of 2005 issue (December) of Family Relations: Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family StudiesStudies Contextual effects focusContextual effects focus Influence of communities on individuals and fammiliesInfluence of communities on individuals and fammilies

– Strata, layers, and levelsStrata, layers, and levels– Partial explanation of well-beingPartial explanation of well-being

Community-level processes as independent variablesCommunity-level processes as independent variables– Inform prevention and interventionInform prevention and intervention

Social organization theory provides insight into Social organization theory provides insight into leverage pointsleverage points


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Definition of Social OrganizationDefinition of Social Organization

Values, norms, processes, and behavior Values, norms, processes, and behavior patterns within a community that organize, patterns within a community that organize, facilitate, and constrain interactions among facilitate, and constrain interactions among community memberscommunity members

Process by which communities achieve desired Process by which communities achieve desired results for individuals and families, including results for individuals and families, including ability to demonstrate resiliencyability to demonstrate resiliency

Includes networks of people, exchanges and Includes networks of people, exchanges and reciprocity in relationships, accepted standards reciprocity in relationships, accepted standards of social support, and social controls that of social support, and social controls that regulate behavior and interactionregulate behavior and interaction


Social Organization TheorySocial Organization Theory

Our previous work (see resource slide): Mancini, Nelson, Bowen, & Our previous work (see resource slide): Mancini, Nelson, Bowen, & Martin (2006), Mancini, Bowen, & Martin (2005), Mancini, Martin, & Martin (2006), Mancini, Bowen, & Martin (2005), Mancini, Martin, & Bowen (2003), Bowen, Mancini, Martin, Ware, & Nelson (2003), Bowen (2003), Bowen, Mancini, Martin, Ware, & Nelson (2003), Bowen, Martin, Mancini, & Nelson (2000)Bowen, Martin, Mancini, & Nelson (2000)

Our work is informed by:Our work is informed by: Cantillon, Davidson, & Schweitzer (2003)Cantillon, Davidson, & Schweitzer (2003) Chaskin, Brown, Venkatesh, & Vidal (2001)Chaskin, Brown, Venkatesh, & Vidal (2001) Furstenberg & Hughes (1997)Furstenberg & Hughes (1997) Janowitz (1991)Janowitz (1991) Kornhauser (1978)Kornhauser (1978) Putnam (2000)Putnam (2000) Sampson (1992)Sampson (1992) Small (2002)Small (2002) Small & Supple (2001)Small & Supple (2001)


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:The ModelThe Model

Our approach, however,Our approach, however, Moves social organization theory from focus Moves social organization theory from focus

on disorganization and delinquency to on disorganization and delinquency to broader applicationsbroader applications

Moves the theory toward a more layered Moves the theory toward a more layered approach to communities (individual, family, approach to communities (individual, family, community)community)

Presents the theory as having a more Presents the theory as having a more fundamental role in explaining broader fundamental role in explaining broader community system phenomenacommunity system phenomena

Figure 1. Social Organizational Processes, Social Structure, and Individual/Family Figure 1. Social Organizational Processes, Social Structure, and Individual/Family ResultsResults

Social Social StructureStructure

Social OrganizationalSocial OrganizationalProcessesProcesses

Individual/Family Individual/Family ResultsResults

Social CapitalSocial Capital• InformationInformation• ReciprocityReciprocity• TrustTrust

Community CapacityCommunity Capacity• Shared responsibilityShared responsibility• Collective competenceCollective competence

Network StructureNetwork Structure• Informal networksInformal networks• Formal networksFormal networks• Network effect levelsNetwork effect levels


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Structure and ProcessStructure and Process

Differentiation of structure from processDifferentiation of structure from process Former pertains to configuration and Former pertains to configuration and

compositioncomposition Latter involves operations, interactions, and Latter involves operations, interactions, and

transactions transactions Process occurs within structural frameworksProcess occurs within structural frameworks Processes provide linkage between social Processes provide linkage between social

structure and effects on individuals and structure and effects on individuals and familiesfamilies


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Focus on ProcessesFocus on Processes

Main focus is on processesMain focus is on processes NetworksNetworks Social CapitalSocial Capital Community CapacityCommunity Capacity

Relationships between themRelationships between them Networks provide context for the development Networks provide context for the development

of social capital, and for building community of social capital, and for building community capacitycapacity


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:NetworksNetworks

Primary ways through which community Primary ways through which community life is enactedlife is enacted

Informal networks comprise web of Informal networks comprise web of relationships with friends, neighbors, work relationships with friends, neighbors, work associatesassociates

Formal networks associated with agencies Formal networks associated with agencies and organizationsand organizations

Voluntary and obligatory relationshipsVoluntary and obligatory relationships


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:NetworksNetworks

Networks effects levelsNetworks effects levels Action element of our frameworkAction element of our framework Nexus of informal and formal networksNexus of informal and formal networks First level-within a networkFirst level-within a network Second level-between like networksSecond level-between like networks Third level-between dissimilar networksThird level-between dissimilar networks

Network configurations provide leverage for Network configurations provide leverage for achieving results through generation of social achieving results through generation of social capital and production of community capacitycapital and production of community capacity


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Social CapitalSocial Capital

Information, reciprocity, and trustInformation, reciprocity, and trust Aggregate of resources (information, opportunities, Aggregate of resources (information, opportunities,

and instrumental support)and instrumental support) Arise from reciprocal social relationshipsArise from reciprocal social relationships Results from participation in formal and informal Results from participation in formal and informal

settingssettings Social capital observed in actions of civic Social capital observed in actions of civic

groups, faith communities, and any number of groups, faith communities, and any number of community-based groupscommunity-based groups

Increases odds of achieving results otherwise Increases odds of achieving results otherwise not attainednot attained


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Community CapacityCommunity Capacity

Shared responsibilityShared responsibility For general welfare of the community and its For general welfare of the community and its

individual membersindividual members SentimentsSentiments

Collective competenceCollective competence Taking collective action, confronting situationsTaking collective action, confronting situations

AssumptionsAssumptions Concern directed at community as a whole and at Concern directed at community as a whole and at

particular elements, action is beyond expression of particular elements, action is beyond expression of positive sentiments, action is proactive and reactive, positive sentiments, action is proactive and reactive, action targeted at threats and at normative situationsaction targeted at threats and at normative situations


Social Organization Theory:Social Organization Theory:Community ResultsCommunity Results

Consequences of effective social organizationConsequences of effective social organization Desired results (examples, safety, health and Desired results (examples, safety, health and

well-being, family resilience)well-being, family resilience) Results not owned by any particular group but Results not owned by any particular group but

valued across communityvalued across community Identified results assist to determine leverage Identified results assist to determine leverage

points for changepoints for change Moves theory from interesting framework to Moves theory from interesting framework to

theory of actiontheory of action


Social Organization:Social Organization:SummarySummary

Need for theorizing that Need for theorizing that connects families and connects families and communitiescommunities

Social organization Social organization provides linkage provides linkage frameworkframework

Theory focused on action Theory focused on action and community changeand community change

There are leverage points There are leverage points that can be mobilized to that can be mobilized to support families and support families and communitiescommunities

Consequent set of Consequent set of considerations for considerations for professionalsprofessionals Program developersProgram developers Program and community Program and community

researchersresearchers


From Theory to ResearchFrom Theory to Research

Current study focuses on slice of social organizationCurrent study focuses on slice of social organization ““Located” in social network and community capacity Located” in social network and community capacity

parts of social organization modelparts of social organization model Effort to explore interplay of related elements of how Effort to explore interplay of related elements of how

people are connected to individuals and to collectives in people are connected to individuals and to collectives in their communitiestheir communities

Particular focus on how individual and social Particular focus on how individual and social characteristics moderate how efficacy is related to characteristics moderate how efficacy is related to engagement and participationengagement and participation Who is more “connected”? Role of gender, age, residence, Who is more “connected”? Role of gender, age, residence,

economic resources, education, and marital status.economic resources, education, and marital status.


The StudyThe Study

2002 survey of 769 Virginia residents ages 18 to 992002 survey of 769 Virginia residents ages 18 to 99 Fielded in spring and early summerFielded in spring and early summer Participants randomly selected and included people who Participants randomly selected and included people who

had listed and unlisted telephone numbershad listed and unlisted telephone numbers Response rate of 60%Response rate of 60% Respondents interviewed by telephoneRespondents interviewed by telephone Margin of error at the 95% confidence level is Margin of error at the 95% confidence level is ± 3.6%± 3.6% Research conducted by the Survey Research Center at Research conducted by the Survey Research Center at

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Alan Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Alan Bayer and Susan Willis-Walton, Principal Investigators)Bayer and Susan Willis-Walton, Principal Investigators)


Sample CharacteristicsSample Characteristics

Sixty-five percent are 40 years of age and olderSixty-five percent are 40 years of age and older Fifty-two percent are womenFifty-two percent are women Forty-three percent reside outside of Virginia’s Forty-three percent reside outside of Virginia’s

heavily populated urban crescent (eastern side heavily populated urban crescent (eastern side of the state spanning from Northern Virginia to of the state spanning from Northern Virginia to Richmond and Hampton Roads)Richmond and Hampton Roads)

Forty percent graduated from collegeForty percent graduated from college Seventy-two percent are white; 28% minoritiesSeventy-two percent are white; 28% minorities Fifty-eight percent are marriedFifty-eight percent are married


Community Connections Index (CCI)Community Connections Index (CCI)

Fifteen-item measure grounded in social capital and community Fifteen-item measure grounded in social capital and community capacity theoriescapacity theories

Items originally organized into two dimensions of community Items originally organized into two dimensions of community connectionsconnections Community engagement (8 items)Community engagement (8 items) Sense of community (7 items)Sense of community (7 items)

For this presentation items organized conceptually into:For this presentation items organized conceptually into: Efficacy, engagement, and participationEfficacy, engagement, and participation

– Efficacy: shared responsibility and collective competence (community Efficacy: shared responsibility and collective competence (community capacity)capacity)

– Engagement: interpersonal closenessEngagement: interpersonal closeness– Participation: activity in civic affairsParticipation: activity in civic affairs

The interviewer stated: The interviewer stated: Now I would like to know about your Now I would like to know about your relationships with people in your community, other than family relationships with people in your community, other than family members. How often in the past year (“often, sometimes, rarely, or members. How often in the past year (“often, sometimes, rarely, or never”) have younever”) have you::


Efficacy, Engagement, and Efficacy, Engagement, and Participation Items (CCI)Participation Items (CCI)

EfficacyEfficacy Joined with people in your community to solve community problemsJoined with people in your community to solve community problems Felt like you could make a positive difference in your communityFelt like you could make a positive difference in your community Looked after or showed concern for other people in your communityLooked after or showed concern for other people in your community

EngagementEngagement Felt close to other people in your communityFelt close to other people in your community Felt like you belonged in your communityFelt like you belonged in your community Spent time with people in your community when you needed a little companySpent time with people in your community when you needed a little company Made new friends with someone in your communityMade new friends with someone in your community

Felt like your own circumstances were similar to others in your communityFelt like your own circumstances were similar to others in your community Talked with people in your community about your problems or difficultiesTalked with people in your community about your problems or difficulties

ParticipationParticipation Attended informational meeting about an issues affecting your communityAttended informational meeting about an issues affecting your community Attended club or organizational meetings in your communityAttended club or organizational meetings in your community

Attended a local government or political meetingAttended a local government or political meeting Volunteered in your communityVolunteered in your community Participated in community events or activitiesParticipated in community events or activities Attended religious servicesAttended religious services


Correlations between Efficacy, Correlations between Efficacy, Engagement, and ParticipationEngagement, and Participation

Efficacy and engagement (r=.592, p<.001)Efficacy and engagement (r=.592, p<.001) Efficacy and participation (r=.655, p<.001)Efficacy and participation (r=.655, p<.001) Engagement and participation (r=.522, p<.001)Engagement and participation (r=.522, p<.001) Engagement and participation explain 51.5% of Engagement and participation explain 51.5% of

variance in efficacy (F(2,756)=400.89, p<.001)variance in efficacy (F(2,756)=400.89, p<.001) Unique contributions: Engagement contributes Unique contributions: Engagement contributes

an increase in RSQ of .086 beyond Participation; an increase in RSQ of .086 beyond Participation; Participation contributes increase in RSQ of .165 Participation contributes increase in RSQ of .165 above and beyond Engagement. Either explains above and beyond Engagement. Either explains 26.4% of variation in Efficacy (common 26.4% of variation in Efficacy (common variance)variance)


Moderation AnalysisModeration Analysis

Comparison of levels of individual and social Comparison of levels of individual and social characteristics: Gender (M/F), age (up to 40/40 plus), characteristics: Gender (M/F), age (up to 40/40 plus), education (less than college/college graduate plus), education (less than college/college graduate plus), marital status (married or living with someone/single), marital status (married or living with someone/single), income (less than $60K/$60K or more), and location of income (less than $60K/$60K or more), and location of residence (urban crescent/all others)residence (urban crescent/all others)

Six hierarchical multiple regressions, one for each Six hierarchical multiple regressions, one for each moderator variablemoderator variable Step 1: community efficacy as criterion, with engagement and Step 1: community efficacy as criterion, with engagement and

participation as independentparticipation as independent Step 2: moderator variable enteredStep 2: moderator variable entered Step 3: interactions (product variables) between moderator and Step 3: interactions (product variables) between moderator and

independent variablesindependent variables RSQ change used as decision criterionRSQ change used as decision criterion


Moderation Analysis (continued)Moderation Analysis (continued)

With regard to gender (.0025) and income With regard to gender (.0025) and income (.0032) was there an increase in RSQ due (.0032) was there an increase in RSQ due to the moderator effect, albeit modestto the moderator effect, albeit modest

Overall, moderators make no difference in Overall, moderators make no difference in primary relationships between the three primary relationships between the three social organization elements (efficacy, social organization elements (efficacy, engagement, and participation); engagement, and participation); relationships independent of individual and relationships independent of individual and social condition factorssocial condition factors


Summary of ResultsSummary of Results

Substantial intercorrelations between Substantial intercorrelations between Efficacy, Engagement, and ParticipationEfficacy, Engagement, and Participation

Engagement and Participation make Engagement and Participation make independent contribution to Efficacy, independent contribution to Efficacy, particularly Participationparticularly Participation

Relationships between Efficacy, Relationships between Efficacy, Engagement, and Participation Engagement, and Participation independent of moderators independent of moderators


Conclusions and Next StepsConclusions and Next Steps

Potential for social organization theory to provide Potential for social organization theory to provide bridges between community processes, bridges between community processes, community programs, and familiescommunity programs, and families

Theory provides umbrella for program Theory provides umbrella for program development and for researchdevelopment and for research

Analysis suggests that social organization Analysis suggests that social organization elements cross-cutting and independent of elements cross-cutting and independent of individual and social factors, at least those individual and social factors, at least those expressed demographicallyexpressed demographically


Conclusions and Next StepsConclusions and Next Steps

Provide greater precision Provide greater precision to community conceptsto community concepts

Improve measures of Improve measures of community conceptscommunity concepts

Clarify linkages between Clarify linkages between conceptsconcepts

Move focus to collective, Move focus to collective, contextual effects level: contextual effects level: How do group level How do group level phenomena affect phenomena affect individual sentiments and individual sentiments and behaviors?behaviors?

Develop clearer sense of Develop clearer sense of change leverage points, change leverage points, their importance, and their importance, and their likelihood of changetheir likelihood of change

Discern layers and levels Discern layers and levels in community structure in community structure and processand process Twists and turnsTwists and turns To and Fro processesTo and Fro processes


ResourcesResources

Bowen, G.L., Mancini, J.A., Martin, J.A., & Nelson, J.P. (2003). Promoting the adaptation of military families: An empirical test of a community practice model. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 52, 33-44.

Bowen, G.L., Martin, J.A., Mancini, J.A., Nelson, J.P. (2000). Community capacity: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Community Practice, 8, 2-21.

Mancini, J.A., Nelson, J.P., Bowen, G.L., & Martin, J.A. (2006). Preventing intimate partner violence: A community capacity approach. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 13 (3/4), 203-227.

Mancini, J.A., Bowen, G.L., & Martin, J.A. (2005). Community social organization: A conceptual linchpin in examining families in the context of communities. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 54, 570-582.

Mancini, J.A., & Marek, L.I. (2004). Sustaining community-based programs for Mancini, J.A., & Marek, L.I. (2004). Sustaining community-based programs for families: Conceptualization and measurement. families: Conceptualization and measurement. Family RelationsFamily Relations, , 53, 53, 339-347.339-347.

Mancini, J.A., Martin, J.A., & Bowen, G.L. (2003). Community capacity. In T. Gullotta Mancini, J.A., Martin, J.A., & Bowen, G.L. (2003). Community capacity. In T. Gullotta & M. Bloom (Eds.), & M. Bloom (Eds.), Encyclopedia of primary prevention and health promotion Encyclopedia of primary prevention and health promotion (pp. (pp. 319-331319-331)). NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.. NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.

Mancini, J.A., Bowen, G.L., Martin, J.A., & Ware, W.B. (June 2003). Mancini, J.A., Bowen, G.L., Martin, J.A., & Ware, W.B. (June 2003). The community The community connections indexconnections index. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on the . Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on the Social Sciences, Honolulu.Social Sciences, Honolulu.


Author AffiliationsAuthor Affiliations

Jay A. Mancini is a professor in the Department of Jay A. Mancini is a professor in the Department of Human Development at Virginia Tech, and a senior Human Development at Virginia Tech, and a senior research fellow at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Society, research fellow at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (Culture, and Environment ([email protected]))

Gary L. Bowen is a Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Gary L. Bowen is a Kenan Distinguished Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (at Chapel Hill ([email protected]))

William B. Ware is a professor in the School of William B. Ware is a professor in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Hill ([email protected]))

James A. Martin is an associate professor in the School James A. Martin is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College (of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College ([email protected]))


For Further InformationFor Further Information

Contact:Contact: Jay A. Mancini, Department of Human Development, Jay A. Mancini, Department of Human Development,

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061; Blacksburg, VA, 24061; [email protected]; ;

Web: Web: http://humandevelopment.vt.edu/mancini.html

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