The Relationship Between Political Efficacy and Citizen Participation: Construct Validation Studies

Political efficacy is the belief that one has the skills to influence the political system. Two similar studies are described that support the validity of a scale designed to measure internal and external political efficacy (Craig & Maggiotto, 1982). One study used a sample of 388 undergraduates; the second study used a sample of 159 nonstudents. Factor analytic results from both studies replicated the factor structure reported earlier (Craig & Maggiotto, 1982). Convergent and discriminant evidence was established using measures of community involvement, leadership, alienation, and perceived competence. Political efficacy was also greater for members of politically oriented voluntary organizations than both nonmembers and members of nonpolitical organizations. Implications of the study of political efficacy for understanding citizen participation are discussed.