Adrian Van Breda

Multicultural Scale Development in Social Work: Measuring the Resilience of Military Families in South Africa Adrian Van Breda

This book expands the literature on ecometrics (scale development in social work), giving particular attention to multiculturalism. The author presents a systematic process model for designing and validating scales that can be used in multicultural and multilingual contexts. Based on classical test theory, the process model draws on the work of Hudson and Faul in social work, as well as key cross-cultural writers such as Brislin and Butcher. Having presented the model, the author tests it by designing and validating a four- construct scale for the South African National Defence Force, called the 'Military Social Health Index'. The Index is used as part of the annual comprehensive health assessment of soldiers prior to deployment. The book provides a thorough review of resilience theory, particularly McCubbin's work on family resilience. The book will be of value to social workers and other social scientists interested in scale development and to mental health and family practitioners in the military.