Reliability and Validity of the Youth Asset Survey: An Update

Abstract

Purpose. Improve and expand an existing youth asset scale. Design. Consisted of seven steps: (1) review of poorer-performing items and constructs, (2) literature review for relevant new asset constructs/items, (3) review of revised instrument by panel of experts, (4) qualitative review through focus group research, (5) pilot-test of instrument, (6) evaluation of the performance of the instrument in a longitudinal study, and (7) conduct of test-retest analysis. Subjects/Setting. Youth (N = 1111) recruited through canvassing of randomly selected census tracts and blocks. Measures. Youth Asset Survey (YAS). Analysis. Factor analysis was conducted on 50% of the baseline data and repeated on the second half of the baseline data. Correlations were computed for the test-retest analysis. Results. Following modifications to the YAS based upon qualitative research, the survey was administered to youth (mean age, 14.3years; 53% female; 39% white, 28% Hispanic, 23% African-American, 9% other). Cronbach α = .55–.92. A majority (27 of 34) of α ≥ .65. All items loaded on one construct at α ≥ .40. The final results yielded 17 constructs assessed via 61 items. Spearman correlations and intraclass correlations ranged from .60 to .82 and .58 to .87, respectively. Conclusion. The results generally suggest that the expanded YAS is a reliable and valid measure of assets.