Page 134 - Ana Kozina and Nora Wiium, eds. ▪︎ Positive Youth Development in Contexts. Ljubljana: Educational Research Institute, 2021. Digital Library, Dissertationes (Scientific Monographs), 42.
P. 134
positive youth development in contexts
The 5 Cs
The 5 Cs were measured using the PYD short-form questionnaire (Geldhof
et al., 2014). It consists of 34 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (from
1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree (22 items) or from 1 = not im-
portant to 5 = extremely important (4 items) or from 1 = not at all like
me to 5 = very much like me (8 items)). The items measure five scales –
the 5 Cs: Competence (6 items, e.g. “I do very well in my class work in
my school”), Confidence (6 items, e.g. “I am happy with myself most of
the time”), Character (8 items, e.g. “Accepting responsibility for my ac-
tions when I make a mistake or get into trouble”), Caring (6 items, e.g.
“When I see someone being taken advantage of, I want to help them”), and
Connection (8 items, e.g. “My friends care about me”). The questionnaire
is psychometrically adequate (Geldhof et al., 2014). The reliabilities of the
scales in the present sample were satisfactory with reliability coefficients
as follows: .68 (Competence), .73 (Confidence), .56 (Character), .75 (Caring)
and .72 (Connection). Kozina et al. (2019) reported slightly higher reliabili-
ties for the Slovenian version of the questionnaire for high school students
(.67, .89, .67, .81, .77) and an adequate fit of the 5-factor structure.
Character strengths and the 5 Cs
Participating students were asked five open-ended questions to collect their
insights concerning how their character strengths might help them achieve
the 5 Cs: Competence (“Which character strengths (and how) might help
you perceive your actions as positive to feel competent in different do-
mains – social, academic and vocational?”), Confidence (“Which charac-
ter strengths (and how) might help you be more satisfied with yourself, feel
self-worth and self-confidence?”), Character (“Which character strengths
(and how) might help you act according to social norms, be aware of right
and wrong, take responsibility for your actions?”), Caring (“Which charac-
ter strengths (and how) might help you develop or enhance your empathy
and caring for others?”), and Connection (“Which character strengths (and
how) might help you build and maintain positive relationships with others
– on both individual and institutional levels?”).
Procedure
As part of the tutorials at the university, the students participated in a
workshop on character strengths. Prior to the workshop, they complet-
ed the VIA-IS questionnaire. During the 90-minute (online) workshop,
134
The 5 Cs
The 5 Cs were measured using the PYD short-form questionnaire (Geldhof
et al., 2014). It consists of 34 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (from
1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree (22 items) or from 1 = not im-
portant to 5 = extremely important (4 items) or from 1 = not at all like
me to 5 = very much like me (8 items)). The items measure five scales –
the 5 Cs: Competence (6 items, e.g. “I do very well in my class work in
my school”), Confidence (6 items, e.g. “I am happy with myself most of
the time”), Character (8 items, e.g. “Accepting responsibility for my ac-
tions when I make a mistake or get into trouble”), Caring (6 items, e.g.
“When I see someone being taken advantage of, I want to help them”), and
Connection (8 items, e.g. “My friends care about me”). The questionnaire
is psychometrically adequate (Geldhof et al., 2014). The reliabilities of the
scales in the present sample were satisfactory with reliability coefficients
as follows: .68 (Competence), .73 (Confidence), .56 (Character), .75 (Caring)
and .72 (Connection). Kozina et al. (2019) reported slightly higher reliabili-
ties for the Slovenian version of the questionnaire for high school students
(.67, .89, .67, .81, .77) and an adequate fit of the 5-factor structure.
Character strengths and the 5 Cs
Participating students were asked five open-ended questions to collect their
insights concerning how their character strengths might help them achieve
the 5 Cs: Competence (“Which character strengths (and how) might help
you perceive your actions as positive to feel competent in different do-
mains – social, academic and vocational?”), Confidence (“Which charac-
ter strengths (and how) might help you be more satisfied with yourself, feel
self-worth and self-confidence?”), Character (“Which character strengths
(and how) might help you act according to social norms, be aware of right
and wrong, take responsibility for your actions?”), Caring (“Which charac-
ter strengths (and how) might help you develop or enhance your empathy
and caring for others?”), and Connection (“Which character strengths (and
how) might help you build and maintain positive relationships with others
– on both individual and institutional levels?”).
Procedure
As part of the tutorials at the university, the students participated in a
workshop on character strengths. Prior to the workshop, they complet-
ed the VIA-IS questionnaire. During the 90-minute (online) workshop,
134
