Perceptions Of Social Capital Research Articles

Impact of Social Media Engagement on Perceptions of Social Capital

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to explore the impact of social media engagement on perceptions of social capital. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of social media engagement on perceptions of social capital. Preliminary empirical review revealed that active participation on social media platforms positively influenced individuals' sense of trust, reciprocity, and belonging. However, the depth of online relationships varied, with some interactions fostering meaningful connections while others remained superficial. Individual factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and cultural background influenced the relationship between social media engagement and social capital perceptions. The study highlighted the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop tailored interventions for maximizing the positive effects of social media on social capital perceptions. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Capital theory, Uses and Gratification theory and Social Identity theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of social media engagement on perceptions of social capital. The study provided valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It enhanced theoretical frameworks by elucidating the mechanisms through which social media engagement influences perceptions of social capital. Practical implications were identified, emphasizing the importance of strategic content creation and authentic engagement for individuals and organizations. Policy recommendations highlighted the need for regulations promoting digital literacy and online safety to foster a healthy online environment conducive to social capital formation. Future research avenues were also suggested, including longitudinal studies and comparative analyses across demographic groups and cultural contexts. Overall, the study's findings offered insights that could inform strategies for enhancing social capital in the digital age.

Associations, networks and civic virtues: The condition of non-governmental organisations in rural Poland vis-a-vis Paweł Starosta’s reflections on social capital

In the work of Prof. Paweł Starosta, issues related to social capital have not only been discussed frequently but their various dimensions have also been dealt with. Social capital-related considerations, according to the authors of this article originally include the following issues: (i) a recognition of the predominance of associative functions of social capital over those that are of a generative nature, (ii) the attribution of particular importance to networks of cooperation, knowledge exchange and the benefits derived from individuals’ abilities to situate themselves in these networks; and (iii) the cardinal importance of the “institutional encasing” of social capital givenits quality and the specific quality of the social capital of the Polish Third Sector as the “capital of local leaders”. The aforesaid perception of social capital was the frame of reference for us to analyse the material collected for their research on the condition of the Third Sector in rural Poland. Starosta’s reflections on social capital were highly useful in considering the specific features of “civic rurality” in Poland: the advantages and disadvantages of leadership social capital, the paucity of network links in the third sector in the rural areas of the country and finally, the discordance between a high sense of agency, on the one hand, and disillusionment emerging from the unfavourable environment concerning social activism in local communities, on the other.

The contagion effect of corporate environmental responsibility in megaprojects: Analyzing underlying processes

The corporate environmental responsibility (CER) performance of contractors is a critical antecedence for the sustainable construction and operation of megaprojects. Studies have confirmed that individual or organizational traits, as well as the external institutional environment, influence contractors' CER decisions and behaviors. However, researchers have neglected the crucial fact that in a megaproject organization, other contractors' environmental responsibility practices also may affect the environmental responsibility decisions of the focal contractor, which refer to as the “contagion effect of CER in megaprojects”. This study examined the authenticity of this contagion effect and develops a conceptual framework to reveal the contagion process. Using 249 survey data from contractor managers with megaproject construction experience, the results confirm the contagion effect of CER in megaprojects. The detailed contagion process is that the focal contractor employees' organizational pride and social capital perception are activated by other contractors' CER practices, thereby choosing to follow other contractors to adopt similar CER strategies. Meanwhile, this process is partially moderated by contractors' megaproject identification. Specifically, contractors with a high level of megaproject identification will have greater organizational pride when observing other contractors' CER practices. However, megaproject identification does not change contractors' social capital perception level. This study provides valuable insights into understanding the contagion process of CER among contractors in megaprojects, and the related findings can help owners effectively incentive contractors' CER intentions to achieve higher megaproject sustainability performance.

Augmented reality and nonprofit marketing during the COVID‐19 pandemic: AR factors that influence community participation and willingness to contribute to causes

AbstractThis study used augmented reality (AR) to test the effects of perceived social presence, perceived media richness, media empathy and social capital on intentions to participate in prosocial, community‐oriented behaviors in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, which appeared to be rife with fear. Specifically, a structural model was employed to assess the hypothesized relationships based on questionnaire data from 476 respondents, who were divided into high and low fear groups. The findings revealed that perceived media richness and social presence both had a significant influence on media empathy, which in turn affected users' perceptions of social capital. Social capital predicted users' community participation intentions, which included intentions to donate. The paths from perceived social presence and perceived media richness to social capital were not significant, and media empathy did not directly influence prosocial, community participation intentions. There were no significant differences between the high and low COVID‐19 fear groups. Overall, this study confirmed the importance of leveraging media richness and social presence to create media content designed to prompt users to identify with those who are negatively affected by the cause, so that media empathy will be boosted. Media empathy should be increased in a manner that leads users to feel connected to a larger community, so that perceptions of social capital will be boosted and will lead to prosocial, community participation activities and donations to the cause.

Bonding and Bridging: Perceptions of Social Capital in Community Music

This case study explores four participants’ experiences with community music (CM) workshops in Austria intended for the university, community, and growing immigrant and refugee populations. The Austrian government encourages cultural integration, potentially furthered through musical activities. Social capital theory, specifically of bonding and bridging, as well as democratic rights of inclusion, enhancement, and participation frame this inquiry. The purpose of this study was to investigate participants’ perceptions of bonding or bridging capital in CM workshops. Research questions included, (a) What are participants’ experiences of bonding or bridging? (b) What are their perceptions and experiences of inclusion, enhancement, or participation? and (c) What role might music play in fostering relationships among diverse participants? Data were collected primarily through interviews and observations and analyzed by coding transcripts for themes that were then compared across participants and with relevant literature. Data suggest community-building activities and purposeful collaborations might create capital, yet bridging capital depends on a confluence of circumstances, including empathetic leadership and activity structures that take virtual needs into account. Implications include the capacity for those with social capital to become bridging people.

How social capital builds online brand advocacy in luxury social media brand communities

The growth in luxury consumption has fuelled interest in understanding consumer perceptions of luxury brands, particularly with the escalation of social media usage. This study examines consumers’ perceptions of social capital in consumer-initiated luxury social media brand communities. Empirical findings based on 353 luxury brand community members verified the effects of social capital dimensions on brand passion and brand community engagement. Shared vision and reciprocity displayed positive relationships with brand passion, while shared language, shared vision, and reciprocity affected brand community engagement. Although social trust influenced brand passion in the Eastern luxury watch brand community, the effect was nonsignificant in the Western luxury watch brand community. The study adds to the literature on Social Capital Theory by clarifying the role of social capital in consumer-luxury brand relationship building. To capitalise on the amalgamation of consumer power in luxury brand communities, marketers need to comprehend the mechanisms of social capital in establishing consumer-brand community engagement and online brand advocacy behaviours.

Coping with chronic environmental contamination: Exploring the role of social capital

The experience of chronic environmental contamination (CEC) is an increasingly prevalent environmental hazard faced by communities around the world. Evidence suggests that this experience can be psychologically stressful. However, CEC is an of often-overlooked environmental justice issue and collective action problem in the psychology literature. We explore the role of social capital as a buffer for the negative impacts of CEC using geographical (Study 1), qualitative (Study 2), and experimental (Study 3) methods. Study 1 shows that US county-level social capital buffers the relationship between air pollution and mental distress. Study 2 presents a qualitative analysis of 13 interviews conducted with people impacted by CEC in Tucson, AZ, focusing on sources of stress, coping mechanisms, and the role of social capital the CEC experience. Study 3 presents an experiment conducted with Tucson residents using a 2(CEC threat) × 2(perceptions of social capital induction) design to investigate the role of social capital in efficacy and defensive denial responses to CEC threat. Though the onset of CEC can damage networks of social capital (Study 2), increasing community perceptions of social capital may be an important avenue for future research (Study 3). We discuss the importance of mixed-methods approaches, as well as the importance of integrating theorizing on social capital into the psychology literature to address invisible and chronic stressors like CEC.

Exploring the associations of youth Facebook addiction with social capital perceptions

Purpose Although Facebook addiction has been found to be a key motive for using Facebook, scant research has explored the association of Facebook addiction with social capital. While researchers addressed how Facebook use strengthened social capital, they did not address the resultant excessive and uncontrollable Facebook use, which is a key sign of Facebook addiction. Therefore, the authors develop this project to study this research gap.Design/methodology/approach This research explores the motive of Facebook addiction by using a questionnaire to examine the relationships between Facebook addiction and two types of social capital: cognitive and bonding social capital. The authors recruited Hong Kong youth through Facebook and peer groups to complete a set of questionnaires on Facebook addiction, cognitive social capital, bonding social capital and the degree of extraversion. Hierarchical regression is used for analyzing the data collected.Findings Hierarchical regression results indicated that the more addicted one was to Facebook, the lower the cognitive social capital one perceived. Such a negative relationship was particularly significant for female participants. A similar but marginally significant effect is also found for bonding social capital.Originality/value This research sheds light on the impact of Facebook addiction on how one perceives shared meanings and the sense of belongingness with other people on social networks.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-06-2021-0300.

Spatially neighborhood and socially non-neighborhood: illustrating social capital perception of neighbors around the apartment complex

ABSTRACT This study is to verify that apartment complexes influence social capital in Seoul. We collected the proportion of apartment complexes in autonomous districts and social capital variables such as cooperation with neighbors, community trust, and altruism of vulnerable people through the Seoul survey data for five years. The main results are as follows. First, as the ratio of apartment complexes increased, the level of social capital of community residents around the apartment decreased. In other words, the higher the proportion of area occupied by apartment complexes, which are gated communities in South Korea, the lower the level of social capital of the local community. Second, as the ratio of apartment complexes increased, the level of social capital of apartment complex residents increased. That is, as the area ratio of apartment complexes increased, the social capital level of the community residents decreased, while the social capital level of apartment complex residents generally increased. Third, as the size of the apartment complex grew, the negative impact on the social capital of residents in the community increased. It means that as the size of the apartment complex increased to 500 and 1000 households, the extent of the decline in social capital increased.

Privacy in Interaction: Exploring Disclosure and Social Capital in Facebook

In this paper, we explore the relationship between Facebook users’ privacy concerns, relationship maintenance strategies, and social capital outcomes. Previous research has found a positive relationship between various measures of Facebook use and perceptions of social capital, i.e., one’s access to social and information-based resources. Other research has found that social network site users with high privacy concerns modify their disclosures on the site. However, no research to date has empirically tested how privacy concerns and disclosure strategies interact to influence social capital outcomes. To address this gap in the literature, we explored these questions with survey data (N=230). Findings indicate that privacy concerns and behaviors predict disclosures on Facebook, but not perceptions of social capital. In addition, when looking at predictors of social capital, we identify interaction effects between users’ network composition and their use of privacy features.

Barriers and Facilitators in Adopting Healthy Lifestyles in West Ethiopia: A Qualitative Research Study

Risks of NCDs are prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles, but it remains a matter of concern and the knowledge regarding the effect of social factors on health almost not researched in West Ethiopia. The objective of the study is to explore barriers and facilitators in adopting healthy lifestyles among urban residents of West Ethiopia. A qualitative study design was used with three diversified focus group discussion (FGD) guidance to obtain adoption and perception of 27 participants’ on healthy lifestyles. The collected audio-record and session note data’s; were transcribed, verbatim and qualitatively analyzed through a thematic approach. The following themes were identified based on social capital perception frames (bonding, bridging, and linking). Barriers theme: negative influence from family, peer pressure and perceive towards unhealthy lifestyles &obesity, and accepted socialization by the community (bonding); inadequate awareness on NCD screening and management and insufficient support from health care workers (bridging); and hospital & community healthcare professionals related barriers, inequity in the allocation of public resources (linking). Facilitators theme: motivation to participate in physical activity (bonding); cooperative relationships with health extension workers (bridging); and fear of morbidity and mortality; access of media to an aware, healthy lifestyle (linking); were identified themes to healthy lifestyles adoption. This study revealed that urban residents of west Ethiopia adopted unhealthy lifestyles. Bonding, bridging and linking social capital would be work as barriers and facilitators to adopting healthy lifestyles. Therefore, integrating quoted findings into the chronic care system need attention.

Evaluation of a Health Professions Teaching Academy Through the Lens of Social Capital.

Academies of health professions educators can amplify members' social capital, promoting educational innovation and organizational change. However, research in this area is limited. This article attempts to close the gap in literature with the results of a program evaluation of our interprofessional teaching academy through the lens of social capital and organizational culture. A program evaluation using a cross-sectional survey was conducted with all members of the Baystate Education Research and Scholarship of Teaching (BERST) Academy. The survey drew on a conceptual framework from previous literature on social capital, communities of practice, and faculty development evaluation. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Overall survey response rate was 54%. More than 90% of respondents have applied the skills learned through BERST Academy into their practice. Social capital was defined with five items (Cronbach alpha = 0.87), and we found no significant difference between profession and social capital, suggesting that perceptions of social capital did not significantly differ by membership in a specific profession. Our results showed that BERST Academy members were able to cultivate social capital through high-quality connections. An academy can serve as a unique culture within an institution to foster collaborative relationships that increase social capital, for members of different professions. In addition, an academy can also provide members with a community that benefits them in the greater organizational culture.

Structural Equation Modeling of the Correlation Between Social Capital and the Professional Ethics of the Specialists of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background: Although ethics is essential to every occupation, it is even more crucial in the professions of the healthcare sector as the spiritual and responsible behavior of these employees toward patients plays a pivotal role in improving and restoring their health. Social capital is a significant determinant of the level of professional ethics. The organizations that respect social norms and principles could create a platform of trust and mutual communication between individuals to contribute to professional ethics promotion. Objectives: The present study aimed to model the structural equation of the correlation between social capital and the professional ethics of the specialists of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted in all the hospitals in Shiraz, Iran (n = 33) in 2019. Cluster sampling was applied to select 10% of the hospitals as the research population, and several general practitioners and specialists (n = 200) completed the questionnaires for data collection. In addition, data on social capital were collected using the social capital questionnaire (2012), and the field data regarding the professional ethics of the physicians and medical specialists were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Results: The mean scores of the social capital and professional ethics of the participants were higher than cut-off points. In addition, the final model of the study indicated that the professional ethics of the practitioners could be predicted by their perceptions of social capital. Conclusions: Social capital is an important criterion of the survival of every system and organization, including medical organizations. Given the importance of social capital in the growth, success, and sustainability of social systems, administrators and health officials must develop basic infrastructure and an atmosphere of trust, security, and loyalty through the improvement of ethics among medical staff, especially among physicians and medical specialists.

Contribution of Design Indicators in Perception of Social Capital, and Interference of Socio-Demographic Information in the Process

Social capital is the effective contribution of social groups through providing a context for cooperation, sense of identity, and perception of social norms. Urban parks are important components of cities, helps building the social capital within urban societies. This study examines the social capital of important urban parks of Tehran, Iran, using three main criteria: informal social control, social cohesion, and social leverage. A stratified random sample of 330 users were selected and asked to rank the social capital criteria using a questionnaire involving five-point Likert scale questions. The results show mutual relationship between informal social control and social leverage (r = 0.62, α = 0.00), and also inter-relationship between design indicators and perceived social capital. People from lower age group and higher educational level show highest perception of social capital. Perceptual difference were observed between genders. Women experience higher esthetic perception (α = 0.00), security (α = 0.01), and accessibility (α = 0.03). The study, while proving the relationship between social indicators and design features, and the impact of personal characteristics on the perception of social capital, indicates social inequality in citizens’ equal benefit of social capital. Measures must be taken to increase social capital in society and solve the significant lower perceptions of some social capital indicators among specific groups.

COVID-19 Lockdown and Social Capital Changes Among Youths in China.

Social capital refers to the effective functioning of social groups through networks of relationships. The lockdown measures due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may change the social capital among youths. This study aimed to evaluate changes in social capital before and during COVID-19 lockdown among Chinese youths. It was based on the online COVID-19 Impact on Lifestyle Change Survey (COINLICS) conducted among 10 540 youths at three educational levels, including high/vocational school, undergraduate, and graduate, before and during COVID-19 lockdown. Measures of perceptions of social capital were adapted from a validated Chinese version of Health-related Social Capital Measurement based on youths' characteristics of living and studying environment. Social capital was measured at four dimensions, including individual social capital (ISC), family social capital (FSC), community social capital (CSC), and society social capital (SSC). Overall, compared to before lockdown, ISC and CSC scores decreased, while FSC and SSC scores increased during lockdown. When stratified by educational levels, the trends for each dimension of social capital were consistent with the overall population. There were 43.9%, 5.7%, 32.1%, and 3.7% of the participants showing decreased scores during lockdown for ISC, FSC, CSC, and SSC, respectively, while 7.2%, 24.0%, 15.3%, and 10.7% of participants showed increased scores for ISC, FSC, CSC, and SSC, respectively. Our timely, large-scale study showed decreased social capital in individual and community dimensions and increased social capital in family and society dimensions during lockdown.

Tacit Knowledge Sharing: An Integration of Social Capital and Transformative Learning Theories

Tacit knowledge ingrained in individual brains can be shared and applied efficiently only with the active involvement and cooperation of the knowledge source and recipient. Since tacit knowledge sharing is not mandated by organizations, employees often view it as a time consuming activity. This turns out to be a potential hindrance to workplace learning and hence, identifying factors that drive employees to voluntarily engage in tacit knowledge-sharing constitutes an important research area. This study aims to empirically examine how the perception of social capital in work teams motivates individuals to voluntarily engage in tacit knowledge sharing with teammates, and the subsequent impact on individual creative performance. Questionnaire-based survey was employed and data was collected from 440 professionals working in the Information Technology industry. Structural equation modeling using AMOS 22 was used for hypothesis testing. As per the findings of the study, all social capital dimensions, except shared language and shared language, demonstrate a significant positive influence on tacit knowledge contribution and knowledge seeking behavior of employees. The results also provide evidence that point to a significant positive relationship between tacit knowledge contribution, tacit knowledge seeking and creative performance of employees. Furthermore, the moderating role of bisociative cognitive style of individuals on the association between tacit knowledge sharing behavior and creative performance is confirmed.

Social capital in the creation of AI perception

Numerous studies over the past 30 years have examined the relationship between social capital (SC) and information and communication technology (ICT). However, few studies have examined the association between artificial intelligence (AI) and SC. This study addresses this gap using a Web survey (n = 5000) carried out in the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan in 2018. The survey included questions on ICT literacy and SC (networks, trust, norms of reciprocity), as well as questions on perceptions of AI including its impact on society. Based on the survey, we extracted four SC factors: cognitive SC, and three forms of structural SC, namely contacts with others, group participations, and SC at work place. We found a statistically significant positive association between SC and positive perceptions of AI through ITC literacy. SC is indirectly associated with AI perception by enhancing ICT literacy, and then ICT literacy enhances AI perception. This indirect effect seems to be mainly caused by two types of structural SC: SC through group participations and SC at work place. Besides this indirect effect, SC has direct effect on AI perception. Cognitive SC has direct positive association with AI perception, whereas structural SC in the form of contacts with others was negatively associated with AI perception. Thus, structural SC has an ambivalent effect on AI perception. Structural SC through group participation as well as SC at work place may work for the positive perceptions of AI through ICT literacy, while those with higher level of contacts with others tend to be cautious toward AI. Both cognitive SC and structural SC assume important roles for the smooth transition into the AI era. Policy makers should be aware of the difference in the way each of these SC forms affects AI perception. SC seems to have mainly promotional impact on the AI perception. However, the precautionary function of SC should not be put on the back burner for the sound social acceptance of AI. In any case, SC assumes an important role in the creation of AI perception.

Tacit knowledge seeking from teammates: unravelling the role of social capital

PurposeThis study aims to empirically examine how the perception of social capital in work teams motivates individuals to proactively seek tacit knowledge from teammates and the subsequent impact on individual creative performance. In addition, it offers an empirical validation of interrelationships between the different sub-dimensions of social capital.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based survey was used, and data were collected from 437 professionals working in the information technology (IT) sector. Structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 22 was used for hypothesis testing.FindingsAs per the findings of the study, all social capital dimensions, except shared language and benevolence-based trust, demonstrate a significant positive influence on tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour of employees. The results also provide evidence that point to a significant positive relationship between tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour and the creative performance of employees. Further, a significant positive interrelationship between different social capital dimensions is confirmed.Originality/valueAs per the findings of the study, all social capital dimensions, except shared language and benevolence-based trust, demonstrate a significant positive influence on tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour of employees. The results also provide evidence that point to a significant positive relationship between tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour and the creative performance of employees. Further, a significant positive interrelationship between different social capital dimensions is confirmed.

The relationship between social capital and innovativeness climate in schools

PurposeProfessional learning communities that merge under the same goal in schools where social relationship networks are strong can contribute to creating an atmosphere which provides a basis for innovativeness. In this study the relationships between social capital, innovativeness climate and professional learning communities were examined through the views of teachers working at public schools. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe data of this study, which utilised correlational survey model, were collected from 734 teachers who work in the Umraniye district of Istanbul, Turkey.FindingsThe findings revealed that there is a positive and statistically significant correlation between social capital, innovativeness climate and professional learning communities. The results demonstrated that teachers’ perceptions of social capital in schools affected their perceptions of innovativeness climate and that professional learning communities had an intermediary role in this relationship. These findings showed that the richness in social relationship networks provided a basis for the development of innovative teaching practices in schools and the professional learning environments created in schools contributed to this process.Research limitations/implicationsIn this study, the intermediary role of professional learning communities on the effect of social capital on innovativeness climate was analysed via teachers’ views. In the literature no study studying the relationship between social capital, innovativeness climate and professional learning communities was found.Practical implicationsIt can be put forward that there is a need for studies that analyse the effect of the roots of social capital on innovativeness culture to identify other variables that may potentially be relevant. In addition, this study may be a contribution to the literature by providing a study on the concepts of social capital and innovativeness climate, which were studied in the fields of social sciences extensively, in educational settings and this supports the field through theoretical and empirical studies.Originality/valueThis study demonstrated the effects of the concept of social capital on innovativeness climate which provides a basis for innovativeness in educational institutions. This topic is currently on the agenda of the OECD and World Bank. Moreover, this study aims to show the intermediary role of professional learning communities in the relationship between social capital and innovativeness climate.

Mechanisms of Social Capital in Organizations: How Team Cognition Influences Employee Commitment and Engagement

While previous research has shown that organizational social capital benefits organizations and creates performance gains, most of this work examined this relationship at the macro level based on organizational aggregates. In this article, we study organizational social capital effects at the micro level, that is, its impact on important work-related attitudes of employees within organizations. We argue that individual perceptions of organization-wide social capital matter in determining employee attitudes such as engagement and commitment. We also point to the critical role of team cognition in shaping individual perceptions of social capital in organizations. Using an organizationally representative sample of nearly 1,200 individuals from two local government organizations in North Carolina, we find support for the indirect effect of team cognition on employee work attitudes. The findings suggest that a promising way to increase the social capital of organizations is through interventions at the team level.