Sense of Belonging Instrument – SOBI
Measures an individual's psychological sense of belonging (SOBI-P) and the antecedents to that sense of belonging (SOBI-A).
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sense of Belonging Instrument – SOBI was developed by Bonnie M. Hagerty & Kathleen L. Patusky (1995). It is designed to measure Sense of Belonging. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 27 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Psychological State (SOBI-P), Antecedents (SOBI-A).
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological State (SOBI-P) | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 | 18 |
| Antecedents (SOBI-A) | 19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27 | 9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 4 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 17 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 18 to 72. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Sense of Belonging (SOBI-P): 18 – 36
- Moderate Sense of Belonging (SOBI-P): 37 – 54
- High Sense of Belonging (SOBI-P): 55 – 72
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.