Social Capital and Space

One of the more successful approaches to the measurement of social capital across US counties relies on a two-step algorithm procedure. In the first step, ten variables accounting for the per capita number of various types of voluntary organizations are averaged to generate an Aggregate Index. In the second step, the Aggregate Index and three other factors are used to extract an overall Social Capital Index. Here, we propose several methodological improvements to this already solid methodology. We replace the Aggregate Index calculated as a simple average with a measure generated with principal component analysis, and subsequently with a formative partial least squares dimension-reduction procedure. We explore variations of these procedures, according to the rent-seeking nature of the organizations that make up our groupings. We illustrate our methodology by using US county data. We find that, even when holding the normative concept and the data constant we generate alternative metrics with different characteristics. This result has far-reaching implications for both the theory of social capital and the public policies that rely on the evidence surrounding social capital. There appears to be an inherent arbitrariness to measuring complex social phenomena using a reductionist analytical framework. At the same time, there are limits to evidence-based policy interventions. These limits need to be mitigated with a balanced approach relying on both analytical tools and qualitative evaluations.

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The Measurement of Social Capital in America: A Reassessment

Vâlsan

Goschin

Druică

2022

Soc Indic Res

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Social Action in Local Community

Adilović

2013

Zb. rad. Isl. pedagoš. fak. Zenica (Online)

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The aim of the paper is to indicate the potential of social action in generating positive changes within a local community. The special significance of the social action lies in the processes of reconstructions of societies that survived traumatic experiences which resulted in the breaking of social connections and left a deep mark in their social tissue. Phases of organisation and realisation of social action have been indicated, as well as the importance of engaging distinguished people from local community in an action. The special focus was put on social capital and its role of “connective tissue” as a basic potential for organising social actions in local community. Future research on the state of social capital in Bosnian society would be of great significance for the context of organising social actions in the first place, and then for other social activities. More active participation of citizens, by the means of social action, is a model that would help activate passive citizens’ energy which is a key factor in the process of a democratic transformation of society. Keywords: social action, local community, reconstruction, social capital

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Social Capital and Space

Cited by 2 publications

References 13 publications

The Measurement of Social Capital in America: A Reassessment

The Measurement of Social Capital in America: A Reassessment

Social Action in Local Community

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