Development of the Combat Platoon Cohesion Questionnaire

Abstract : This report describes the development and properties of an in-depth measure of cohesion at the platoon level. The measure was generated as part of a wider project to develop procedures and technologies for small unit leaders to improve the leadership, cohesion, and commitment in their platoons and companies. The instrument was based on a conceptualization of cohesion as three types of bonding. These were (horizontal) bonding among peers, (vertical) bonding between leaders and subordinates, and (organizational) bonding between all platoon members and their platoon and the Army. The Combat Platoon Cohesion Questionnaire (CPCQ) consists of 79 base items used to form 3 horizontal bonding scales, 2 vertical bonding scales, and 6 organizational bonding scales. Data were collected from 70 infantry platoons across 4 posts to determine the properties of the instrument. Analysis of the data showed the CPCQ, at the individual respondent level, to have reliability coefficients and an underlying factor structure representative of the scales. At the platoon level, the data showed high intra-scale item correlations moderate inter-scale correlations. The scales also correlated well with construct validity items and items representing constructs, such as soldier confidence and 'will' from related research. While more work on validating the instrument with external measures and on refining item wording is desirable, the current version of the CPCQ appears to be a solid, serviceable, in-depth measure of cohesion at the platoon level. (sdw)