Establishing the content validity of the community safety and peace index

There is a relative paucity of research on the drivers, indicators and mediating mechanisms underlying community level safety and peace promotion. We developed community-level safety and peace indicators drawing on two community-based studies. Guided by the values and principles of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and classical test methodology, the initial index development phases included: conceptualisation, identification of dimensions, operationalisation of dimensions, refinement of indicators, item generation, and item reduction phase. Content validity evidence is crucial for developing scientifically sound instruments and demonstrating a clear causal connection between the targeted construct and the items designed to measure it. The aim of this study is to establish the content validity of the Community Safety and Peace Index (CSPI), which primarily drew on local community-based knowledges in its development. The different data sets were triangulated in a retrospective evaluation workshop, three expert panel reviews, community input, and test developers' consensus. The team reached consensus on the conceptualisation and measurement of community safety and peace, operationalisation of key constructs, identification of dimensions, indicators, and questionnaire items.