Citizen Development
Indicators and Tools for Evaluation
Susan Jakes and Lisa Cassidy
Citizen development involves programming efforts to build individuals'
capacity to impact their community and to mobilize individual citizens
to participate in community building and development.
Indicator Areas
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Citizen Capacity Building / Human Capital: cognitive
skills, knowledge, training, and other personal skills and resources |
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Environmental Capital: the social and organizational
context in which the individual or collaborative group exists and
functions |
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Citizen Empowerment: perception of control over factors
to improve one's community |
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Desire: perception of importance of activities and
seriousness of community problems |
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Motivation: incentive for taking action |
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Citizen Participation: citizen involvement in the community |
The following is a guide to evaluating citizen development. Each of the
six particular components of Citizen Development can be evaluated by assessing
the indicators listed under each area.
Human Capital: Improvement in individuals' cognitive skills, knowledge,
training, and other personal skills and resources to improve the community
Goal: Local citizens will gain knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community |
Indicator: Community members will show an increase in knowledge,
awareness, and skills to bring about change in the community. Specifically,
the extent to which citizens have learned the following skills:
Gather information relevant to issues
develop a survey
conduct a survey
assess resources
Collaborative problems solving
facilitate a group discussion
negotiate in conflict situations
decision making
consensus building
Influence over the community
leadership
communication
Plans to take action
Grantwriting
time management
Measure: Survey or interview citizens to determine which skills
they have acquired since program implementation
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999) (in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Tool: Evaluation of Citizen
Action Training (in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Goal: Local citizens will gain knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community |
Indicator: Community members will show an increase in knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community. Specifically, the extent
to which citizens have learned the following skills:
1. Gather information relevant to issues
a. develop a survey
b. conduct a survey
c. assess resources
1. Collaborative problems solving
a. facilitate a group discussion
b. negotiate in conflict situations
c. decision making
d. consensus building
1. Influence over the community
a. leadership
b. communication
1. Plans to take action
a. Grantwriting
b. time management
Measure: Survey or interview citizens to determine which skills
they have acquired since program implementation
Tool: Mobilization Survey (in Adobe Acrobat
PDF file)
Tool: Evaluation of Citizen
Action Training (in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Environmental Capital: Improvement in the social and organizational
context in which the collaborative group exists and functions.
Goal: Community will improve its ability to address
and meet the needs of its members |
Indicator: Increased access to needed technical assistance from
external resource systems will result in greater ability to meet community
need Measure: A numerical tally of the number and duration of visits
from different state/federal, and/or international agencies to the communities
based on a content assessment of agency trip reports.
Measure: An interview or survey assessment of presenters meeting
of community need.
Indicator: Residents of the community perceive their community
as a collectivity. (Rossi)
Measure: Record number of community members who perceive themselves
as sharing a significant set of interests with other residents
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999) (in Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Indicator: The extent to which there exist opportunities for public
discussion within an organizational and/or structured setting.
Measure: Content analysis of local papers, newsletters, or meeting
announcements. Time given at local meetings for public input into decision
making process
Indicator: The extent to which a wide variety of related organizations
come together to co-sponsor events, activities or projects
Measure: Numerical count and analysis of meeting minutes
Indicator: The purposes of the local organization meet the community's
needs
Measure: Community survey of organizational awareness, involvement,
and perception of needs being met in community.
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Indicator: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR. These documents must explicitly focus on enhancing
the work of a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Timely information via PCs, Internet, other communication
devices, etc. will be available and/or affordable.
Measure: Survey by phone and personal interview. Logs of site connectivity
computer use.
Indicator: All members of the group are informed of the actions
of the group.
Measure: interview, Distribution lists
Tool: Network Analysis Questionnaire Source: Linney & Wandersman
(1991). Prevention Plus III. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Pg. 413.
Goal: Community relationships and communication
will be strengthened in ways that encourage participation. |
Indicator: Meetings will be well planned and executed.
Tool: collaboration Structure Meeting Questionnaire
Source: Winer, M., & Ray, K. (1994). Collaboration Handbook: Creating,
Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey, St. Paul, MN: Amherst H. Wilder
Foundation.
Tool: Meeting Questionnaire Source: Dombro, A. L., O'Donnell, N.S.,
Galinsky, E., Malcher, S.G., & Garber, A. (1996). Community Mobilization:
Strategies to Support Young Children and Their Families, New York: Families
and Work Institute.
Tool: Evaluation of Citizen
Action Training
See also: Where the Answers Live: Team Decision Making in Zenger,
J. H., Musselwhite, E., Hurson, K., Perrin, C. (1994). Leading Teams:
Mastering the New Role. Homewood, IL: Zenger-Miller.
Goal: Community will improve its ability to
address and meet the needs of its members. |
Indicator: Increased access to needed technical assistance from
external resource systems will result in greater ability to meet community
need Measure: A numerical tally of the number and duration of visits
from different state/federal, and/or international agencies to the communities
based on a content assessment of agency trip reports.
Measure: An interview or survey assessment of presenters meeting
of community need.
Indicator: The extent to which there exist opportunities for public
discussion within an organizational and/or structured setting.
Measure: Content analysis of local papers, newsletters, or meeting
announcements. Time given at local meetings for public input into decision
making process Indicator: The extent to which a variety of related organizations
come together to co-sponsor events, activities or projects Measure:
Numerical count and analysis of meeting minutes
Indicator: The purposes of the local organization meet the community's
needs
Measure: Community survey of organizational awareness, involvement,
and perception of needs being met in community.
Indicator: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR. These documents must explicitly focus on enhancing
the work of a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Timely information via PCs, Internet, other communication
devices, etc. will be available and/or affordable.
Measure: Survey by phone and personal interview. Logs of site connectivity
computer use.
Citizen Empowerment: Increased perception of control over factors to
improve one's community
Goal: Local citizens will possess increased self-confidence
in their ability to make a difference in the world in which they live
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Indicator: the extent to which local citizens reflect attitudes
and /or values positions suggesting belief that they can make a difference
Measure: Survey or Interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Indicator: Local citizens display empowerment through increased
pursuit of leadership roles in community activities
Measure: Meeting minutes - personal interview testimonials
Desire: Increased awareness of importance of community activities and
seriousness of community problems
Goal: There will be an increase in citizen's perception
of the importance and seriousness of community activities and problems
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Indicator: Citizens will have a greater awareness of problems
in the community
Measure: Survey or interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy, 1999)
Indicator: Citizens will have a greater perception of the importance
of community programs
Measure: Survey or interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy, 1999)
Indicator: Local citizens display an interest in community activities
Measure: Survey or interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy, 1999)
Indicator: Local citizens display a desire to take positive action
Measure: Survey or interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Motivation: Increased willingness and intent to take action
Goal: There will be an increased level of motivation
to participate in community programs and activities |
Indicator: Citizens will express a greater intent to participate
Measure: Survey or interview
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Indicator: The extent to which people are willing to continue after
experiencing failures or setbacks in carrying out an activity
Measure: attendance logs, meeting minutes, town records, etc.
Citizen Participation: Increased citizen involvement in the community
Goal: There will be an increase in the level of citizen
involvement methodologies used by the community educator |
Indicator: Community educator will increase the level of citizen
involvement practices in community programming
Measure: Level of opportunities for participation moves from low
level of participation opportunities towards greater opportunities for
participation. For example, representative citizens go from serving on
boards, to planning the programs, to initiating the programs, to controlling
the programs
Tool: Jakes, (1998). Citizen Participation Scale.
Indicator: Community Members initiate community programming activities
(utilizing Extension resources if they are applicable)
Measure: The chart developed by Jakes (1998) depicts increasing
levels of citizen participation. Rate the community
program using this chart pre and post community development activities.
Program levels of citizen participation should fall within a specific
category below. Indicators for each level could be randomized and put
into Likert scale to give participant to assess perceptions of encouragement
of participation.
Indicator: Community members will become mobilized to work to improve
their community
Measure: Increased mobilization of community members
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Measure: Levels and dispersion of participation rates
Tool: Asset mapping: Mobilizing an entire community (assessing
type, quality, and availability of assets)
Source: Kretzmann and McKnight (1993). Building Communities from
the Inside Out. Chicago: ACTA Publications. Pg. 345-354
Indicator: Local citizens will display involvement in local activities
(FROM ROSSI ARTICLE)
Measure: Document the existence of locality-oriented media (local
newspapers, magazines, etc.)
Measure: Document existence of locality-oriented and based voluntary
associations (political clubs, civic associations, neighborhood protective
associations, etc.)
Measure: Document membership and participation in locality-oriented
voluntary associations
Indicator: The extent to which local citizens reflect attitudes
and /or values positions suggesting individual's linkages with association,
public institutions, and the private sector
Measure: Pre - post Individual Linkages Maps (Evaluation Collaboration);
Membership lists - I belong to the following groups
Indicator: The extent to which citizens participate in the community's
actions (For indicators targeting participation by minority or under represented
groups specifically - see Process Development
- Key Stakeholders)
Goal: Key stakeholders are included in the community
development process and represent a broad cross section of all community
stakeholders. See also Process Development)
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Indicator: The extent to which citizens, including minority
individual, participate in the community's actions
Measure: Survey or interview or document review of membership rosters
including data on stakeholder population the member represents
Tool: Mobilization Survey (Jakes and Cassidy, 1999)
Indicator: Change in stakeholder involvement
Measure: Survey, interview, or document review of membership rosters
including data on stakeholder population the member represents
Tool: Collaboration structure
Source: Winer, M., & Ray, K. (1994). Collaboration Handbook: Creating,
Sustaining, and Enjoying the journey. St. Paul, MN: Amherst H. Wilder
Foundation.
Tool: Network Analysis Questionnaire Source: Linney & Wandersman
(1991). Prevention Plus III. US Department of Health and human Services.
Pg. 413
Tool: Change Agent Diversity Worksheet
Source: White, Lynn (1998). Collaboration: Tools, techniques, and
processes for success. NNCO.
Tool: Diversity Awareness Continuum Source: NNCO, Adapted from
The managing diversity survival guide: A complete collection of checklists,
activities, and tips. By L. Gardenswartz & A. Rowe (1994)
Indicator: the extent to which local citizens continue to participate
through project completion - Are people willing to hang in for the long
haul? (For turnover with positive program outcomes see next indicator)
Measure: time series membership rosters
Indicator: The extent to which there occurs productive turnover
among leaders/officers of established community groups
Measure: Documentation review, survey, interview
Indicator: Community members will show increased use of available
community services and facilities.
Measure: Activity sign-up logs, client portfolios
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