Modelling and Measuring Local Community Engagement (LCE)

Abstract

Social engagement is changing considerably in its forms and objectives, and it is not always easy to understand this change. Engagement in the local community can be the link between social participation and personal commitment. The purpose of this research was to define and validate the local community engagement (LCE) construct that is the degree of involvement and participation in the local community. The LCE model has eight dimensions: local volunteering, participation in traditions, participation in sports events, local political participation, local activism, protest/NIMBY, community care, and informative participation. The sample comprised 530 individuals residing in a variety of towns/cities of different sizes in Italy. Confirmatory factor analyses and reliability and validity analyses confirmed the proposed model. Further analysis showed a strong relationship between LCE and place identity, sense of community, entitativity and political control.

Appendices

Appendix 1: The LCE Scale

Below are some statements about you and your city/town. Consider the term “community” referring to your city/town, or neighborhood, or the area closest to you. Indicate, with a check mark, the answer that comes closest to who you are.

1. Of local voluntary associations (e.g. non-profit organizations, NGOs, social voluntary organizations, cultural associations, etc.) …

1. I am not a member 2. I am a member but I participate little or never

3. I am a member and I participate quite often 4. I am a member and I always participate

2. In events/activities/events related to community issues (e.g. street or beach cleaning, animal protection, donations, fundraising, etc.). I participate …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

3. In religious festivals and not (e.g.: patronal festivals, feasts on local products, festivals, etc.) typical of my community I participate

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

4. About the cultural traditions of my community …

1. I do not care 2. I rarely care

3. I contribute quite often 4. I actively contribute to keeping them alive

5. I organize or participate in the organization of local events (e.g. music and/or cultural festivals, awareness meetings on local culture, etc.). …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

6. In the matches of the local football team I participate …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

7. In the sporting events of local teams (e.g. volleyball, basketball, cycling, rugby, etc.) I participate …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

8. Of sports associations in my community …

1. I am not a member 2. I am a member but I participate little or never

3. I am a member and I participate quite often 4. I am a member and I always participate

9. With respect to cheering and the colors of the sports teams in my community …

1. I do not support or like to wear the colors of my community's sports teams 2. I cheer when there are matches but I do not wear the colors of the sports teams in my community

3. I cheer and love to wear the colors of the sports teams in my community 4. I love to represent my support for the sports teams of my community even outside the sports events through clothes, gadgets, gifts, etc.

10. I contact local administrators, politicians and/or journalists for issues that affect the entire local community …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

11. I participate in the activities of local political parties, groups or associations …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

12. In the municipal councils or assemblies I participate …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

13. In the organized meetings of the local administration I participate …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

14. I write in local newspapers or blogs …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

15. I participate in informal meetings or via the Internet to discuss neighborhood/city issues …

1. Never

2.Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

16. I collaborate with other people living here to solve the problems of this neighborhood/city …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

17. In protest demonstrations calling for a change in favor of the community (e.g. street demonstrations, protests, picketing, etc.) …

1. I do not participate because in my community there aren't these manifestations 2. Although there are these events, I prefer not to participate

3. I sometimes participate 4. I often participate 5. I always participate

18. In protests against the construction of infrastructures considered harmful to the community (e.g. no high-speed train, no LNG terminal, no pipeline, etc.) …

1. I do not participate because there aren't these mobilizations 2. Although there are these events, I prefer not to participate

3. I sometimes participate 4. I often participate 5. I always participate

19. In demonstrations protesting against the decisions of local administrators (e.g. in defense of historic buildings, trees or parks, etc.) …

1. I do not participate because there aren't these conditions 2. Although there are these manifestations, I prefer not to participate

3. I sometimes participate 4. I often participate 5. I always participate

20. About the cleanliness of my community (e.g.: throwing paper away on the street, collecting my dog's excrement, taking care of the separate collection of household waste, etc.) …

1. I do not care 2. I rarely care

3. I care enough 4. I am very careful

21. With regard to the disposal of special waste (e.g. household appliances, PCs and peripherals, batteries, medicines, used oil, etc.) …

1. I admit that I am not particularly careful on this point 2. Sometimes I go to the nearest recycling depot

3. I always go to the nearest recycling depot

22. I can find out about local problems in newspapers or on the internet …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

23. I discuss with friends and relatives issues related to my community …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

24. I share and advertise events and information about my community through social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) …

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Always

Appendix 2: Score (Frequencies and Percentages) of LCE Scale

	Freq.	%
1. Of local voluntary associations (e.g. non-profit organizations, NGOs, social voluntary organizations, cultural associations, etc.) …
1. I am not a member	307	57.9
2. I am a member but I participate little or never	52	9.8
3. I am a member and I participate quite often	90	17.0
4. I am a member and I always participate	81	15.3
2. In events/activities/events related to community issues (e.g. street or beach cleaning, animal protection, donations, fundraising, etc.). I participate …
1. Never	181	34.2
2. Sometimes	257	48.5
3. Often	65	12.3
4. Always	27	5.1
3. In religious festivals and not (e.g.: patronal festivals, feasts on local products, festivals, etc.) typical of my community I participate
1. Never	75	14.2
2. Sometimes	197	37.3
3. Often	197	37.3
4. Always	59	11.2
4. About the cultural traditions of my community …
1. I do not care	41	7.8
2. I rarely care	247	46.8
3. I contribute quite often	190	36.0
4. I actively contribute to keeping them alive	50	9.5
5. I organize or participate in the organization of local events (e.g. music and/or cultural festivals, awareness meetings on local culture, etc.). …
1. Never	278	52.5
2. Sometimes	154	29.1
3. Often	66	12.5
4. Always	32	6.0
6. In the matches of the local football team I participate …
1. Never	373	70.4
2. Sometimes	92	17.4
3. Often	46	8.7
4. Always	19	3.6
7. In the sporting events of local teams (e.g. volleyball, basketball, cycling, rugby, etc.) I participate …
1. Never	296	56.0
2. Sometimes	150	28.4
3. Often	48	9.1
4. Always	35	6.6
8. Of sports associations in my community …
1. I am not a member	404	76.2
2. I am a member but I participate little or never	29	5.5
3. I am a member and I participate quite often	56	10.6
4. I am a member and I always participate	41	7.7
9. With respect to cheering and the colors of the sports teams in my community …
1. I do not support or like to wear the colors of my community's sports teams	248	47.0
2. I cheer when there are matches but I do not wear the colors of the sports teams in my community	185	35.0
3. I cheer and love to wear the colors of the sports teams in my community	62	11.7
4. I love to represent my support for the sports teams of my community even outside the sports events through clothes, gadgets, gifts, etc	33	6.2
10. I contact local administrators, politicians and/or journalists for issues that affect the entire local community …
1. Never	283	53.4
2. Sometimes	183	34.5
3. Often	45	8.5
4. Always	19	3.6
11. I participate in the activities of local political parties, groups or associations …
1. Never	343	64.7
2. Sometimes	129	24.3
3. Often	41	7.7
4. Always	17	3.2
12. In the municipal councils or assemblies I participate …
1. Never	367	69.2
2. Sometimes	127	24.0
3. Often	21	4.0
4. Always	15	2.8
13. In the organized meetings of the local administration I participate …
1. Never	316	59.8
2. Sometimes	169	32.0
3. Often	38	7.2
4. Always	5	0.9
14. I write in local newspapers or blogs …
1. Never	417	78.7
2. Sometimes	85	16.0
3. Often	19	3.6
4. Always	9	1.7
15. I participate in informal meetings or via the Internet to discuss neighborhood/city issues …
1. Never	297	56.0
2. Sometimes	162	30.6
3. Often	54	10.2
4. Always	17	3.2
16. I collaborate with other people living here to solve the problems of this neighborhood/city …
1. Never	246	46.7
2. Sometimes	200	38.0
3. Often	57	10.8
4. Always	24	4.6
17. In protest demonstrations calling for a change in favor of the community (e.g. street demonstrations, protests, picketing, etc.) …
1. I do not participate because in my community there aren't these manifestations	227	43.0
2. Although there are these events, I prefer not to participate	120	22.7
3. I sometimes participate	144	27.3
4. I often participate	23	4.4
5. I always participate	14	2.7
18. In protests against the construction of infrastructures considered harmful to the community (e.g. no high-speed train, no LNG terminal, no pipeline, etc.) …
1. I do not participate because there aren't these mobilizations	258	48.9
2. Although there are these events, I prefer not to participate	138	26.1
3. I sometimes participate	90	17.0
4. I often participate	24	4.5
5. I always participate	18	3.4
19. In demonstrations protesting against the decisions of local administrators (e.g. in defense of historic buildings, trees or parks, etc.) …
1. I do not participate because there aren't these conditions	250	47.5
2. Although there are these manifestations, I prefer not to participate	124	23.6
3. I sometimes participate	108	20.5
4. I often participate	35	6.7
5. I always participate	9	1.7
20. About the cleanliness of my community (e.g.: throwing paper away on the street, collecting my dog's excrement, taking care of the separate collection of household waste, etc.) …
1. I do not care	12	2.3
2. I rarely care	45	8.5
3. I care enough	167	31.6
4. I am very careful	305	57.7
21. With regard to the disposal of special waste (e.g. household appliances, PCs and peripherals, batteries, medicines, used oil, etc.) …
1. I admit that I am not particularly careful on this point	72	13.6
2. Sometimes I go to the nearest recycling depot	101	19.1
3. I always go to the nearest recycling depot	356	67.2
22. I can find out about local problems in newspapers or on the internet …
1. Never	8	1.5
2. Sometimes	116	21.9
3. Often	239	45.2
4. Always	166	31.4
23. I discuss with friends and relatives issues related to my community …
1. Never	10	1.9
2. Sometimes	182	34.7
3. Often	221	42.2
4. Always	111	21.2
24. I share and advertise events and information about my community through social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) …
1. Never	10	1.9
2. Sometimes	182	34.7
3. Often	221	42.2
4. Always	111	21.2