Relational patterns between community dimensions and global measures of community satisfaction

The present study investigate the nature of the relationship between two cognitively oriented global measures of community satisfaction and seven dimensions of community life. Additionally, these data provided a basis to illustrate interpretive issues associated with the use of satisfaction and importance ratings as independent indicators of community satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the seven dimensions and the two global measures. Preliminary analysis revealed that the importance ratings of the seven dimensions had little relationship with either global measure. The satisfaction ratings revealed a moderate relationship with both global measures; however, the dimensions contributing significantly to the two regression models varied. For the first global measure which consisted of a more abstract assessment of ones' community as an ideal place to live, the environment, economics, and recreation opportunities dimensions were the best indicators, respectively, of the measure. The second global measure which focused more on the effectiveness of community leaders and residents in solving community revealed similar findings but a public service dimension replaced economics as the second best predictor of community effectiveness. These findings suggest that relational patterns not only vary with respect to cognitive or affective global measures as suggested by other research, but they also vary with respect to whether the focus is on the ideal or the effective community. Additionally, even though individuals are asked to indicate the importance of various community elements to their overall satisfaction with community life, they appear to focus on subsistence elements rather than on elements which are related more directly to satisfaction. Other issues related to the use of independent ratings of community dimensions in determining resource allocation priorities and making decisions also are discussed.