How Do We Assess How Agentic We Are? A Literature Review of Existing Instruments to Evaluate and Measure Individuals' Agency

Abstract

The importance and centrality of the construct of agency is wellknown amongst social scientists. Yet, there is still little agreement on how this construct should be understood and defined, as demonstrated by the diversity of instruments that are used to investigate it. Indeed, there is no current consensus or standardized methodology to assess agency. This paper provides a synthetic overview of the studies that have evaluated and measured individuals' agency. More specifically, the purpose is to review research that quantitatively investigates the agency of adults, as well as children and youth, across different social contexts. In the process, it offers recommendations to inform future research, practice, and policy. We identified published peer-reviewed studies relating to the assessment of agency across countries and across age through a narrative literature review. The findings were grouped according to whether agency was measured in its most comprehensive conception or in a precise single domain or dimension, which was then discussed separately for children, adults, and women. Of the 3879 studies identified from online searches of the literature and the five additional sources gathered through bibliography mining, 106 qualified for full review, with 34 studies included in the final synthesis. Multiple different instruments were found to be currently adopted or developed to assess agency. The present review offers an exhaustive overview of the different conceptualizations of agency and of the available instruments to assess it, providing critical information for researchers and policymakers to improve intervention and empowerment programs.

Collaborative leadership to support sustainability in practice for dietitians as allied health professionals

“…Such displays of self‐efficacy can be seen as enabling factors to support dietitians to embed sustainability in their professional practice 61 . This takes courage and agency 62 and follows the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Future dietitians' campaign to “be bold, brave and innovative” 63 . There has been a call for dietitians to amplify their visibility by consolidating their skills and becoming more sustainability literate 6,7,14 so they can act as role models to support other AHPs.…”

“…Recommendations are made, therefore, to consider co‐creating KPIs for sustainability across healthcare professions and utilising already existing tools by which to monitor improvement and quality of (greener) healthcare. But “giving them [early adopters] permission and space to do that” (INT, William) to enhance their agency 62 for this agenda is also essential.…”

“…One point stated to listen to students because they are “fresh and have not become institutionalized or indoctrinated into a system yet” (FG, 1) 74 Another focused on the need to be flexible to embrace change, suggesting that some experienced practitioners may be set in their ways, making it hard for students to challenge their authority 75 . There is a need to tap into these fresh innovative ideas that students bring to the sustainability agenda, to give them more agency 62 to embrace this challenge, which was also supported by the leaders we interviewed and suggests more flexibility to change is required in experienced healthcare practitioners.…”

“…Evidence shows that education providers, regulators, professional associations and citizens need to work together to realise the roles that will deliver on better health for all 43 . Recognising everyone's expertise on this green topic and nurturing their agency 62 is an important step for both current and future leaders. This may go some way to balance power within current leadership models and boost the confidence of students coming into their professions by offering them transferable skills within curricula 5 to build within them “eco‐ethical” leadership (and followership) competencies 82 and co‐create “leadership collectives” 83 to achieve the necessary structural changes required for equitable and long lasting sustainability transformations.…”

“…71 Furthermore, the future leader comment relating to broader contexts (e.g., egos and financial tensions) was particularly relevant. This not only hints at the healthcare students perceptions of the pitfalls of power and control within traditional leadership models, 72 where they (as students) may feel they lack agency, 62 but also acknowledges understanding of the economic strains currently faced by the healthcare service. 73 There were more contextual comments made by the future leaders, consolidating the importance of their voices being more amplified within this green agenda.…”