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Residential Satisfaction and Civic Engagement: Understanding the Causes of Community Participation

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Abstract

In this paper, we seek to examine the causes of civic engagement, which refers to a set of actions and efforts, a feeling of belonging, and an experience of investment and ownership in local, regional, national, or international communities. We propose that research on the determinants of civic engagement has missed an important independent variable, which is residential satisfaction. Building upon insights from residential satisfaction research, we hypothesize that the more satisfaction an individual has with their community, the more likely it is that they will be civically engaged. We test this theory with a hierarchical regression model. While the regression produced mixed results, our findings suggest that satisfaction with social offerings leads to an increase in civic engagement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Michael C. Grillo

  2. University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Miguel A. Teixeira & David C. Wilson

Authors
  1. Michael C. Grillo
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  2. Miguel A. Teixeira
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  3. David C. Wilson
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Correspondence to Michael C. Grillo.

Appendix

Appendix

1.1 GLOCAL Variables and Measures

1.1.1 Civic Engagement

I am going to read out some different forms of political and social action that people can take. I would like you to tell me, for each one, whether you have actually done any of these things, whether you might do it, or if you would never do it under any circumstances.

  1. 1.

    Contacted a politician to express views

  2. 2.

    Signed a petition

  3. 3.

    Donated money to an organization

  4. 4.

    Volunteered time to an organization

  5. 5.

    Voted in a local or state election

1.1.2 Social Offerings

On a five-point scale, where 5 is very good and 1 is very bad, how would you rate the Dimension in [City]?

  1. 1.

    Availability of cultural opportunities, such as theater, museums, and music

  2. 2.

    City as a place to meet people and make friends

  3. 3.

    Having a vibrant nightlife with clubs, bars, restaurants, etc.

1.1.3 Basic Needs

On a five-point scale, where 5 is very good and 1 is very bad, how would you rate the Dimension in [City]?

  1. 1.

    Offering affordable housing

  2. 2.

    Availability of public transportation

  3. 3.

    Being able to get from place to place with little traffic

  4. 4.

    Availability of quality health care

  5. 5.

    Having religious institutions that meet your needs

  6. 6.

    Offering job opportunities in your field

1.1.4 Education

On a five-point scale, where 5 is very good and 1 is very bad, how would you rate the Dimension in [City]?

  1. 1.

    Quality of public schools

  2. 2.

    Quality of colleges and universities

1.1.5 Income

Please stop me when I read the category that contains the total FAMILY income for your household, before taxes, in 2004. Was it (read 1–8)?

  1. 1.

    <$10,000

  2. 2.

    $10,000 to <$20,000

  3. 3.

    $20,000 to <$30,000

  4. 4.

    $30,000 to <$40,000

  5. 5.

    $40,000 to <$50,000

  6. 6.

    $50,000 to <$75,000

  7. 7.

    $75,000 to <$100,000

  8. 8.

    $100,000 or more

  9. 9.

    DK

  10. 10.

    Refused

1.1.6 Level of Education

Please stop me when I read the category that describes the education that you have most recently completed (read 1–6).

  1. 1.

    Grade school or less

  2. 2.

    Some high school

  3. 3.

    High school graduate

  4. 4.

    Some college or technical school

  5. 5.

    College graduate

  6. 6.

    Post-graduate work or degree

  7. 7.

    DK

  8. 8.

    Refused

1.1.7 Gender

Code only, Do not ask

  1. 1.

    Male

  2. 2.

    Female

1.1.8 Race/Ethnicity

How would you describe your race or ethnic background? (Open ended and code)

  1. 1.

    Some other race (list)

  2. 2.

    DK

  3. 3.

    Refused

  4. 4.

    HOLD

  5. 5.

    HOLD

  6. 6.

    African-American/Black

  7. 7.

    Asian

  8. 8.

    Native American/American Indian

  9. 9.

    White

  10. 10.

    Hispanic

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Grillo, M.C., Teixeira, M.A. & Wilson, D.C. Residential Satisfaction and Civic Engagement: Understanding the Causes of Community Participation. Soc Indic Res 97, 451–466 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9511-0

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