Neighborhood Cohesion Scale
Measures an individual's sense of belonging, cohesion, and shared values among neighbors on their residential block.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Neighborhood Cohesion Scale was developed by Douglas D. Perkins, Paul Florin, Richard C. Rich, Abraham Wandersman, & David M. Chavis (1990). It is designed to measure Neighborhood Cohesion. The scale is intended for use with Adult residents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Agree, 2 = No opinion, 3 = Disagree.
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 3. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low neighborhood cohesion: 1 – 1
- Moderate neighborhood cohesion: 2 – 2
- High neighborhood cohesion: 2 – 3
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.