Reliability and validity of the youth asset survey: an update.

Purpose: Improve and expand an existing youth asset scale.

Design: Consisted of seven steps: (1) review of poorer-performing items and constructs, (2) literature review for relevant new asset constructs/items, (3) review of revised instrument by panel of experts, (4) qualitative review through focus group research, (5) pilot-test of instrument, (6) evaluation of the performance of the instrument in a longitudinal study, and (7) conduct of test-retest analysis.

Subjects/setting: Youth (N = 1111) recruited through canvassing of randomly selected census tracts and blocks.

Measures: Youth Asset Survey (YAS).

Analysis: Factor analysis was conducted on 50% of the baseline data and repeated on the second half of the baseline data. Correlations were computed for the test-retest analysis.

Results: Following modifications to the YAS based upon qualitative research, the survey was administered to youth (mean age, 14.3 years; 53% female; 39% white, 28% Hispanic, 23% African-American, 9% other). Cronbach alpha = .55-.92. A majority (27 of 34) of alpha > or = .65. All items loaded on one construct at alpha > or = .40. The final results yielded 17 constructs assessed via 61 items. Spearman correlations and intraclass correlations ranged from .60 to .82 and .58 to .87, respectively.

Conclusion: The results generally suggest that the expanded YAS is a reliable and valid measure of assets.