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The perceptions of costs and benefits of high active versus low active groups in community coalitions at different stages in coalition development
Author(s) -
Chinman Matthew J.,
Anderson Christopher M.,
Imm Pamela S.,
Wandersman Abraham,
Goodman Robert M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6629(199607)24:3<263::aid-jcop6>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - incentive , attendance , empowerment , process (computing) , perception , public economics , cost–benefit analysis , business , psychology , public relations , economics , political science , economic growth , computer science , microeconomics , neuroscience , law , operating system
Over 200 community volunteers who belong to different committees of an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention coalition completed a comprehensive survey designed to measure specific variables associated with coalition functioning including costs and benefits of participation. Community volunteers are one of the coalition's greatest resources, and benefits and costs may mediate member participation throughout the different stages of coalition functioning. The survey was completed first at the formation stage (Time 1), and then eight to ten months later at the implementation stage (Time 2) of the coalition's development. Contrary to most previous research, a principal component analysis of the benefit and cost items yielded only one benefit component and one cost component. Also, the authors found that benefits and costs distinguished between the members of “High” and “Low” attendance groups only at Time 2. We consider the implications for coalition functioning, empowerment theory, and “incentive/cost management.” We also describe how we provided the partnerships with information in order to assist them to implement the incentive/cost management process. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.