Toward the Development of a Measure of Sociopolitical Consciousness: Listening to the Voices of Salvadoran Youth

Abstract

A mixed methods approach was used to explore dimensions of sociopolitical development of youth in El Salvador. Photovoice was used to engage 2 groups of adolescents from a rural village to document and discuss their community. Using previous theory and models of sociopolitical development as a guide, themes were identified to inform the development of a quantitative measure we call sociopolitical consciousness. New and preexisting items were combined to create a measure that reflected the themes from the qualitative data. The resulting measure was completed by 682 Salvadoran high school students across 3 different community contexts; 7 factors were subsequently identified representing both individual and collective dimensions of sociopolitical consciousness. The study demonstrates how a contextualized research process can facilitate a synergy between the emic and etic dimensions of sociopolitical development.

Critical Consciousness: A Critique and Critical Analysis of the Literature

“…For example,Diemer et al (2014) define CC as how “oppressed or marginalized people think about and respond to inequitable sociopolitical conditions” (p. 15). Similarly, Baker and Brookins (2014) notes that CC is “concerned with the ways in which marginalized group members develop an understanding of oppressive societal structures and forces, and subsequently the motivation for individual and collective action to confront and change those structures and forces” (p. 1016). These limited definitions exclude oppressors and may inadvertently support the proposition that oppression is a problem for the oppressed to solve.…”

“…These concepts seem to operate in tandem and to exist within a complex web of cause-and-effect. Despite the research on CC that has contributed to our understanding of CC and the wide usage of CC, the CC construct and theoretical framework remains vague, ambiguous and fragmented (Baker and Brookins 2014). Critical consciousness has roots in multiple disciplines which make the concept complex and difficult to interpret.…”

“…These issues cause concern over the future and utility of critical consciousness theory, research, and practice (Goodman et al 1998). If fundamental questions remain unanswered, CC scholars will continue to produce divergent theory and assessments of CC (e.g., Baker and Brookins 2014; Diemer et al 2014; Jemal 2016; McWhirter and McWhirter 2016; Shin et al 2016; Thomas et al 2014). As such, the importance of critical consciousness as a key phenomenon of interest may be minimized unless theoretical and empirical issues are addressed with greater precision.…”

Empowerment and Critical Consciousness: A Conceptual Cross-Fertilization

“…Notably, neither of these scales contain a measure of political efficacy (Diemer et al 2015), although some recently developed scales do . Baker and Brookins (2014) developed a measure through mixed-methods research with Salvadoran youth. Their sociopolitical awareness scale has seven factors.…”

Transformative Consciousness of Health Inequities: Oppression Is a Virus and Critical Consciousness Is the Antidote

“…For example, scholars have used conflicting definitions and assessments of the CC construct (Baker & Brookins, 2014; Diemer et al, 2014; Jemal, 2017a; Watts et al, 2011). This causes some concern over the future and utility of CC theory, research, and practice.…”