Resource Key
When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:
LEVEL 1
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
LEVEL 2
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
LEVEL 3
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Linked Databases
- Britannica Schools This link opens in a new windowBritannica School covers the core subject areas of English, Maths, Science and History. Interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, worksheets, manipulatives, study guides and research tools.
- Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus This link opens in a new windowThis resource provides the largest collection of full text from leading regional and international newspapers and periodicals, full-text reference books, tens of thousands of full-text biographies, and a collection of images containing more than one million photos, maps, and flags.
- Psychological & Behavioural Sciences This link opens in a new windowThis comprehensive resource is an essential tool for psychologists, counselors, researchers and students, providing extensive full-text coverage for a broad range of subjects in the fields of psychology, behavioral sciences and related disciplines.
Studies
- Nowell, B., & Boyd, N. (2010). Viewing community as responsibility as well as resource: deconstructing the theoretical roots of psychological sense of community. Journal Of Community Psychology, 38(7), 828-841.This article seeks to contribute to the conceptual development of PSOC by clarifying the second-order assumptions of PSOC as it is represented in prevailing conception and measurement. We introduce human needs theory as a macro framework for representing the definition and study of PSOC to date. Second, we illuminate the limitations of a purely needs theory perspective of PSOC and propose the value of exploring alternative theoretically grounded perspectives. Third, we offer an alternative theoretical base for PSOC—a sense of community as responsibility—and highlight how this alternative theoretical lens can suggest new models for understanding the dynamic between PSOC, psychological well-being, and community engagement.
- Sayer, E., Beaven, A., Stringer, P., & Hermena, E. (2013). Investigating sense of community in primary schools. Educational & Child Psychology, 30(1), 9-25.Given that pupils' sense of community in primary school has been relatively neglected by the literature, a new measure of the construct was developed for this age group. The impact of pupils' gender and year group on sense of community was also explored. A focus group with Year 5 and 6 pupils was used to develop the Sense of Community Index-Primary (SCI-P) and following piloting, 452 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils completed the measure in school. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor model of sense of community, which represents a departure from McMillan and Chavis's (1986) framework. A significant main effect of gender was found, while a year group hypothesis was only partially supported. Practical applications and limitations of this research are also discussed.
- Australian Psychological Society. (2006, September ). Psychological sense of community and its relevance to well-being and everyday life in Australia. Retrieved from http://groups.psychology.org.au/assets/files/community-updated-sept061.pdfThis study presents an overview of its multidisciplinary theoretical origins and the more recent empirical foundations of quantitative and qualitative assessment methods. We then suggest ways in which this theory and research informs and progresses several challenges within Australian community culture, from the broad context of health, to specific population subgroups including diverse cultures, immigrants and youth, and to specific issues such as natural resource management and building the social coalition for government sponsored program delivery.
Google Earth Communities
- Wise, N. (2015). Placing Sense of Community. Journal Of Community Psychology, 43(7), 920-929.This research paper acknowledges connections between sense of community and sense of place using Google Earth images to position experiences and meanings. The practical impact of this approach suggests an
attempt to assist nongovernmental organization planners and community
developers about the significance of further exploring social and psychological meanings embedded in space and place as a way of understanding local sense of community.
Critical Analysis
- McMillan, D. W. (2011). Sense of community, a theory not a value: a response to Nowell and Boyd. Journal Of Community Psychology, 39(5), 507-519.This is a response to the Nowell and Boyd's article which argued that the McMillan theory of Sense of Community is a simplistic, needs-based theory that excludes responsibility as a part of Sense of Community. They base their critique of McMillan's theory on March and Olsen's many articles. In this article, McMillan responds. He argues that Nowell and Boyd () have yet to understand his theory and that they use a false dichotomy to critique it. He suggests that Third Position Thinking (Newbrough, ; Newbrough & McMillan, ) would help undo false dichotomies and provide a better description of the juxtaposition of human values. McMillan contends that responsibility is an inherent part of his theory
- García, I., Giuliani, F., & Wiesenfeld, E. (1999). Community and sense of community: The case of an urban barrio in Caracas. Journal Of Community Psychology, 27(6), 727-740.This paper presents a review of the concepts of “community” and “sense of community.” To discuss the concept of “community,” reference is made to the different definitions provided in the literature analyzing and describing their components and determining their adequacy and relevance to the theories of Community Social Psychology. Based upon the work of McMillan (1976) and McMillan and Chavis (1986) the authors analyze the concept and definition of “sense of community” and describe its components. The analysis of these concepts within the framework of Community Social Psychology underlies the fact that these terms cannot be separated as well as the need to vindicate the historical nature of community building processes and the sense of community of their members.