Peer Relations and Adjustment Lab

Current Projects

Our Current Projects

Social Network Measurement Development, Utility, and Validity

Principal Investigator:

Kathleen Duncan, MSc.

Co-Investigators:

Daniella Gelman, MA.

Cynthia Erdley, Ph.D. (and faculty sponsor)

Description:

The overall aim of the proposed set of three studies is to further develop and then evaluate a self-report measure of social network size and diversity for college students. This program of research builds upon preliminary work undertaken by The Peer Relations and Adjustment Lab to adapt the Cohen Social Network Index into the Duncan Index of Social Connection (DISC) for college students. It seeks to establish a measure with good evidence for utility, including readability, time to complete, administration ease, scoring ease, feasibility, acceptability, relevance, and treatment planning assistance. Evidence for face and construct validity will also be sought through engagement with college students and field experts. Three central aims will be worked towards: (1) Refining the DISC in consultation with students via focus groups to maximize utility, face-validity, and accuracy; (2) Refining the DISC in consultation with field experts via a survey to maximize utility, expert validity, and accuracy; (3) Gathering confirmatory evidence of the utility, validity, and accuracy of the Revised DISC by administering it, along with other relevant measures, to a large sample of college-students.