Sense of Community Index (SCI)
Measures an individual's psychological sense of community across membership, influence, reinforcement of needs, and shared emotional connection.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sense of Community Index (SCI) was developed by Dr. David M. Chavis (1986). It is designed to measure Psychological sense of community. The scale is intended for use with General population.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Membership, Influence, Reinforcement of Needs, Shared Emotional Connection.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | 4,5,6 | 3 |
| Influence | 7,8,9 | 3 |
| Reinforcement of Needs | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Shared Emotional Connection | 10,11,12 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous True/False format.
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 12. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Sense of Community: 0 – 4
- Moderate Sense of Community: 5 – 8
- High Sense of Community: 9 – 12
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.