Collective Efficacy

Collective efficacy is often defined as the barometer of a neighborhood’s sense of, social control, cohesion and trust among its residents.

It’s a vital concept for any community group or law enforcement agency wanting to improve conditions and relationships of its constituents.

Dr. Uchida and his team at Justice & Security Strategies have developed research methods to measure, evaluate and ultimately improve collective efficacy. 

His research has been supported by leading national organizations, including the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, and The Children’s Trust of Miami.

In a recent research project, his team examined crime, Census, digital mapping, and other data, as well as conducted surveys and observations, to determine the collective efficacy levels of several struggling neighborhoods in Miami. Specifically, to understand these levels, they were able to evaluate the stability of the neighborhoods by understanding residents’ mutual trust factors and their willingness to intervene for the common good.

The information proved vital for policy makers because the findings helped identify and address the root causes of crime, educational gaps and community decay.