DOI: 10.3886/icpsr36642.v1
title: Evaluation of a Multi-Faceted, U.S. Community-Based, Muslim-Led Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Program, Montgomery County, Maryland, 2014-2015
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed. This study attempted to be the first of its kind to evaluate a U.S. community-based Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Program. Conducted in Montgomery County, Maryland, the evaluation judged the relative effectiveness of various community programs on CVE-relevant outcomes. The collection contains 2 SPSS data files, Archive-ready, survey 1st phase.sav (n=67; 292 variables) and Archive-ready, survey final phase.sav (n=421; 232 variables). The qualitative data are not available as part of this data collection at this time.
description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based, Muslim-led Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program.
description: Phase I employed a grounded theory approach, and a multi-method evaluation design (employing surveys and focus groups) to a) understand recruitment and retention practices of participants in a multi-faceted, U.S. community-based, Muslim-led CVE program, b) identify the outcomes of participation in that program, c) assess and explore community knowledge of risk factors associated with radicalization, and individuals' natural inclinations in response to those factors, and d) identify barriers to individual help-seeking and community-law enforcement collaborations in a CVE context. The second phase of the evaluation used focus groups and a pilot survey to develop a set of CVE-relevant outcome measures (survey instruments) to measure, quantifiably, each of the Phase I subcomponents. Preliminary data on the reliability and construct validity of those measures was also obtained. Additionally, formalized curriculum (a training manual and other educational materials) began development regarding a) awareness of prospective risk factors of radicalization and civic-minded responses to them, and b) training for safety network service providers (including law enforcement) regarding ways to build effective collaborations with local communities (including Muslim communities). Additionally, the CVE program administrators were briefed on Phase I findings with respect to suggested practices to enhance recruitment and retention of participants to their programs. In the final phase the mean outcomes of the program were tested to assess whether they reliably produced the intended outcomes: CVE-relevant outcomes, purported by program participants, derived from the Phase I data collection. Additionally, employing a propensity score matching design (a type of quasi-experimental design), the CVE programs' outcomes were tested by comparing participant involvement groups (i.e. those who had never participated in the programs vs. those who had). Employing time-series analysis, change in attendance to the CVE programs' events, during the period of this evaluation, also was tested. Furthermore, the set of survey instruments (piloted in Phase II), were again tested with respect to their measurement reliability.
description: This study contains two SPSS quantitative data files. The first data file contains 292 variables and 67 cases. It asked respondents about which activities they participate in that are not organized by their school, which International Cultural Center (ICC)-associated programs or events they have attended, what types of thoughts or emotions they personally have, what kind of situations their friends and family are in and why they came into contact with these particular friends and family. It also questioned them about their work, their thoughts about police, radicalization, and religion. The second spss data file contains 232 variables and 421 cases. This contains variables that asked respondents about their attitudes towards volunteering, emotional stability, and peer relations. The file also asked about trust between friends and police, employment, multicultural events, ICC-associated programs, race, radicalization, and religion.
description: Not applicable.
description: Response Rates: Not applicable.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Several Likert-type scales were used.
description: This mixed-method study employed both random and convenience sampling among individuals working or residing in the greater area of Montgomery County, Maryland (who volunteered to participate).
description: Datasets: DS1: Evaluation of a Multi-Faceted, U.S. Community-Based, Muslim-Led Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Program, Montgomery County, Maryland, 2014-2015
description: Individuals residing or working in Montgomery Co., MD. Smallest Geographic Unit: None
description: face-to-face interview; mixed mode; web-based surveyThese data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.Due to minimal processing, the qualitative data files contained in this study will not be included in this release.