Measuring Community Resilience. Development and Validation of the Polish Community Resilience Scale (PCRS)

This book addresses an important measurement gap by developing and validating the first comprehensive Polish Community Resilience Scale adapted to Central European cultural and institutional contexts. Grounded in theory and supported by interdisciplinary expert consultation and empirical validation, the study examines the factor structure of community resilience and compares empirical findings with existing theoretical frameworks. The scale is applied in a case study of Tarnów, a medium-sized post-socialist city, to assess local resilience, identify strengths and vulnerabilities, and demonstrate the instrument’s diagnostic value. The publication offers practitioners – such as urban planners, crisis managers, and policymakers – a reliable tool for assessing community preparedness, guiding targeted interventions, and monitoring resilience over time.