title: The development and validation of the Contemporary Critical Consciousness Measure.
abstract: The development of critical consciousness (CC) has been theorized to be an essential prerequisite for individual and collective action toward changing inequitable social conditions. However, empirically supported instruments intended to measure this important construct have only recently been introduced to the literature. The purpose of this project was to create a brief, psychometrically sound measure of CC. Two studies with over 600 observations provide initial reliability and validity data on the Contemporary Critical Consciousness Measure (CCCM). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggest that the final 19-item CCCM assesses CC associated with racism, classism, and heterosexism and provides a general index of CC. Results support the internal consistency and factor structure of the measure. Expected relationships between the CCCM and existing measures of symbolic racism, classism, and homonegativity provide evidence for the validity of the instrument. Limitations, future directions for research, and counseling implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Richard Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Ijeoma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ezeofor
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Counseling, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Jamie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: Kristopher M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Goodrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003243:Consciousness; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012923:Social Class; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*