Social Capital Formation Research Articles

Роль человека в формировании социального капитала сетей

When the theory of social capital develops in conjunction with the network approach, it expands ways of understanding the nature of social ties and the principles of social organization. At the same time, it gives rise to many related theoretical and methodological questions. One of them is the role of a person in the formation of social capital. Since social capital is generated within the structure of the relations of subjects and cannot personally belong to any of them, the fundamentals of the theory are the primacy of the group over the individual. Meanwhile, the characteristics of people involved in network relations play a specific role. As favorable conditions for social capital, the article examines a person’s deliberate choice of network behavior, expectations from network contacts, and the measured pace of network life. Conscious use of strategies aimed at joining social capital involves the selection of ways of networking. The criterion is the replenishment of common resources through cooperation, exchanges, investments in collective assets. Motivated participants in social communication establish mutually beneficial relationships, work with information, and look for opportunities for self-realization in social situations. Personal characteristics can improve the network position, affecting access to resource channels. By determining their usefulness, people focus on common needs, understanding of social contexts, and the increment of the collective good. Certain expectations from relationships give rise to connections that are filled with appropriate resources. Depending on expectations, ideas about the significance of other people are formed, the circle of contacts is determined, a person is looking for his place in the social network. To get what you expect, you need to remain visible and recognizable. In this way, looking at other people triggers the alignment of network communications, coordinating the flows of social capital. In addition, since it takes time for people to evaluate potential contacts and establish trust, the pace of network processes should maintain network stability, in other words, be moderate.

Techno-capital, cultural capital, and the cultivation of academic social capital: The case of adult online college students

The current study examines the role of cultural capital and techno-capital in the academic social capital formation process, focusing on adult online college students (N = 725) enrolled at a private not-for-profit university in the US. Multiple regression results indicated that cultural capital predicted behavioral integration, an important means through which academic social capital is cultivated; yet, techno-competency, a subscale of techno-capital, predicted the ways in which students perceived their own integration. The findings lend support to the notion that students with higher levels of cultural capital enact academic engagement because they have a better understanding of the “rules of the game,” but techno-capital enables individuals to mobilize a particular set of skills and their socialized understanding of the online context to extract value and realize the benefits from academic engagement.

Social capital and adolescents who are deaf: Associations with wellbeing, school connectedness, and pragmatics

ABSTRACT This paper explores the associations between different types of social capital and other measures including wellbeing, school connectedness, and pragmatic language. Seventeen adolescents who were deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) from Australia and the United Kingdom completed an online survey and their results were analysed to answer research questions relating to: social capital formation in adolescents who are DHH; associations between social capital, wellbeing, pragmatics, and school connectedness; and the role of identity in social capital formation. Statistical analyses were completed to determine: bivariate correlations between variables; significant differences between the types of social capital measured; and significant differences in social capital according to identity group. Results indicate that overall, adolescents had higher Offline social capital compared to Online social capital, and higher Family social capital in comparison to Peer and Institutional social capital. Additionally, all social capital except Online social capital had strong associations with wellbeing and school connectedness measures. Students who identified as deaf had statistically significant lower levels of social capital than those who identified as hard of hearing or hearing impaired, and bicultural; however, this result may be due to the composition of this small sample. This study indicates that social capital is associated with higher levels of wellbeing and school connectedness and demonstrates that school experiences play an important role in the formation of social capital for students who are DHH.

Taste in North and South Reconsidered: A Case for Attention to Downward and Lateral Mobility in the Victorian Novel

Abstract This article argues for attention to downward and lateral vectors of class mobility in the Victorian novel by pointing out how such attention can allow us to rethink conventional readings of the genre’s ideological normativity. A reconsideration of the role of taste in Gaskell’s North and South reveals that the novel represents taste not an inherent sign of Margaret and John Thornton’s superiority, but rather as a practiced and conscious cultivation of social capital in the face of threats to their economic security. Scenes in the novel in which Margaret and Thornton exhibit their taste are correlated with moments in which the economic instability of their positions is emphasized. I argue that this means the novel represents taste as linked to their experience of downward mobility. The novel also takes care to exhibit the different social milieus in Victorian England and their contrasting systems of social distinction. These contrasts, in combination with Margaret and Thornton’s desires for global travel and influence, represent travel as a form of lateral class mobility which can be successfully achieved using taste as a form of transportable social capital. In its representation of taste as practiced, rather than naturalized, in response to the various vectors of mobility, the novel complicates our vision of the Victorian novel as symbolizing the rise of the middle class. Ultimately, setting aside our expectations about upward class mobility by Victorian protagonists allows us to see new ways novels critique middle-class ideology.

“School is not for me”: Young people’s perceptions of being a self-directed learner in a small rural Tasmanian town

The Education Act (2016) was introduced in Tasmania to address the state’s high rates of early school leaving. Such legislative reforms may overlook informal factors that influence educational outcomes. In this paper we argue that a deeper understanding of the underlying drivers of retention and engagement in diverse social and cultural contexts is vital in supporting the Education Act. Drawing on qualitative data, this paper provides insights into how a group of Grade 10 students in a small rural town in Tasmania made the choice to leave school early or continue on to some form of post-compulsory education. Using Berger and Luckmann’s theory of sociology of everyday life together with Bourdieu’s (1990) concepts of social and cultural capital, this paper highlights how perceptions of being a self-directed learner and feelings about the future shaped the young people’s educational decisions. It emphasises how a localised form of social and cultural capital was associated with feelings of failure and anxiety about future learning, whereas a broader form of social and cultural capital was linked with more optimistic perceptions of being a self-directed learner. The paper suggests that the career aspirations, including university study, of young people living in regional areas may be supported through familiarisation with larger regional towns and raising their awareness of post school options.

Science communication fellowship programs as gatekeepers.

Science communication fellowship programs act as gatekeepers to the skills and opportunities they provide scientists and science communicators. In this role, they may either resist or reproduce inequities present in society at large. We conducted interviews with 25 US-based science communication fellowship directors representing 23 programs to investigate (1) what types of capital these programs provide to fellows and (2) what rules and norms may shape access to these programs. Our results suggest that these programs connect fellows to rich forms of cultural and social capital in the form of experiential learning and mentorships. However, access to these programs is likely shaped by forms of infrastructure, literacy, and community acceptance. Maintaining the status quo in these organizations may not be enough to resist social inequity, and we finish this article with a call for reflexivity and actionable transformation within these programs.

Impacts of the built environment on social capital in China: Mediating effects of commuting time and perceived neighborhood safety

Planners intend to promote social capital by improving the built environment. However, the impact of the built environment on social capital and the pathways of this impact remain unclear, particularly in developing countries, such as China. This study examines how the built environment is associated with informal social capital mediated by commuting time and perceived neighborhood safety in the Chinese context. Using 2014 China Labor Force Dynamics Survey data, we employ generalized structural equation models to explore this complex relationship. The results show that higher population density reduces social capital (i.e., familiarity, trust, and reciprocity) by increasing commuting time and reducing perceived neighborhood safety, which is contrary to the argument for New Urbanism. A shorter distance to the business center promotes social capital by reducing commuting time. Higher facility density and a shorter distance to transit have positive associations with social capital by increasing perceived neighborhood safety. These findings provide new evidence for understanding associations between built environment elements and social capital, which may have important implications for policymakers.

Social capital formation in high density urban environments: Perceived attributes of neighborhood green space shape social capital more directly than physical ones

The potential of neighborhood green spaces to add to community life and promote a better quality of urban living has been recognized. However, it remains unclear which aspects of green space, physical or perceived, best encourage this social capital formation. Particularly in the context of high-density urban environments, the relationship between urban green spaces and social capital remains poorly understood. This study examines their relationship in nine public housing estates in Singapore. The results show that perceived attributes of green space fostered higher levels of social capital than physical attributes. Of the perceptions analyzed, perceived sociability and perceived presence of human activities had the greatest effects on social capital. The findings suggest that physical attributes, such as the amount of green space, matter in shaping perceptions towards green space, which affects, in turn, the level of social capital fostered. In addition, typology of green space contributed to differences in the level of social capital: residents living in estates with distributed green spaces were generally associated with higher levels of social capital than residents living in estates with centralized green spaces. We, therefore, argue that design needs to consider how green spaces are perceived by residents and how they are spatially distributed, over and above the mere presence of green spaces alone.

The promised capitals of international high school programmes and the global field of higher education: The case of Shenzhen, China

The term ‘international school’ encompasses a broad array of institutions offering a range of different programmes. However, the differences between these programmes have scarcely been explored in the existing literature. This article focuses on three popular international high school programmes (Advanced Levels, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) by drawing upon in-depth interviews with international school counsellors, teachers, parents, and students in Shenzhen, China. We employed the Bourdieusian concepts of ‘promised capitals’ and the ‘global field of higher education’ to delineate differences amongst these international programmes. We argue that each international programme promises the accumulation of distinct combinations of capitals associated with different global circuits of mobility for higher education. At the same time, we also suggest that the extent to which the promised capitals are conferred is complicated by the ‘localisation’ of schools: this impacted the delivery of promises related to embodied cultural and social capital forms.

Social capital I: measurement and associations with economic mobility

Social capital—the strength of an individual’s social network and community—has been identified as a potential determinant of outcomes ranging from education to health1–8. However, efforts to understand what types of social capital matter for these outcomes have been hindered by a lack of social network data. Here, in the first of a pair of papers9, we use data on 21 billion friendships from Facebook to study social capital. We measure and analyse three types of social capital by ZIP (postal) code in the United States: (1) connectedness between different types of people, such as those with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES); (2) social cohesion, such as the extent of cliques in friendship networks; and (3) civic engagement, such as rates of volunteering. These measures vary substantially across areas, but are not highly correlated with each other. We demonstrate the importance of distinguishing these forms of social capital by analysing their associations with economic mobility across areas. The share of high-SES friends among individuals with low SES—which we term economic connectedness—is among the strongest predictors of upward income mobility identified to date10,11. Other social capital measures are not strongly associated with economic mobility. If children with low-SES parents were to grow up in counties with economic connectedness comparable to that of the average child with high-SES parents, their incomes in adulthood would increase by 20% on average. Differences in economic connectedness can explain well-known relationships between upward income mobility and racial segregation, poverty rates, and inequality12–14. To support further research and policy interventions, we publicly release privacy-protected statistics on social capital by ZIP code at https://www.socialcapital.org.

Social capital and soil conservation: Is there a connection? Evidence from Peruvian cocoa farms

• Agriculture associations can contribute to soil conservation if they build trust first. • For soil conservation, associations must create adherence to organic certification rules. • Informal social capital of native communities facilitates the adoption of sustainable practices. • Indigenous rules and imaginaries can be allies for rural and environmental conservation policies. • Native environmental injustices are due to imaginaries and potential dependence on reciprocity.

Social capital in urban agriculture initiatives

PurposeThe study aims to investigate urban agriculture in the city of São Paulo from the perspective of social capital. The specific objectives are (1) to identify the effects of social capital on urban agriculture and (2) to investigate social capital formation (its sources and challenges imposed onto its development).Design/methodology/approachInitially, a review of the literature was carried out in order to understand the main concepts used in the field of study. Semi-structured interviews were also carried out with people from urban agriculture initiatives, and they were analyzed under the lens of social capital.FindingsAspects of social capital were recognized and organized in a framework including sources, effects and challenges. The first deals with consummatory or instrumental sources that generate social capital. The second deals with the following effects: generation of human capital, citizenship, engagement, access and mobilization of resources, and access to information. The third deals with the challenges to its formation related to homophily and the perception of benefits from this form of capital.Originality/valueUrban agriculture plays an increasingly important role in relieving the pressure generated by the food production system, being part of the solution to food security and sustainability issues. Many researchers recognize important social aspects acting on the dynamics of the movement and the effects of activities on the generation of social capital. The contribution of this work is to deepen the understanding of this type of capital in the context of urban agriculture.

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SOCIAL CAPITAL FORMATION THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

The present study has been designed to explore the effects of social media on the social capital formation among university students in Punjab Pakistan. Sociability is essential for the development and maintenance of a network. A person's social behavior may be altered by the usage of digital media, which may make it easier for them to create virtual relationships, which may have negative consequences for their social capital. Even though computer-dependent communication might help people make virtual relationships, it has the opposite effect of increasing interpersonal and face-to-face conversation. In the world of globalization internet particularly social media increase the human interaction across the globe. People develop social relationship with different people and form their online social capital. It is possible that using social networking services for the maintenance and growth of social capital would be extremely beneficial to those who have a social capital investment. Social capital is most typically acquired through intimate relationships with family, close friends, and coworkers, among other things. The main objective of study is to study the basic social media profile and the socio-economic characteristics and its relationship with the social capital formation. Present study was conducted in Universities in Punjab, Pakistan. The study was conducted in large scale universities of Punjab province. Representative Sample of 520 was randomly with the help of Taro Yamani Formula. Data was collected with the help of a questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS. Logistic Regression and Correlation test was applied to check the relationship between variables, and it was concluded that social media helpful in the formation on online social capital formation that ultimately leads towards the offline bonding and bridging. Key Words: Social Capital, Social Media, Regression, Correlation, Online Bounding.

사회자본의 커뮤니티시설이 사회주택의 주거안정에 미치는 영향

This study surveyed the effects of community space and community programs on the residents of social housing on the resident's continued life intentions, trust, networks, social norms, and social norms. The study method used multiple regression analysis. The research results are as follows. Community space had a positive effect on social capital formation and housing stability, but the community program did not show significant results on social capital formation and housing stability. In addition, as a result of analyzing the effect of community on housing stability through social capital, community space had a significant effect on the intention to continue residence through social capital, but connection with the local community did not have a significant effect. The implication is that social housing can improve the stigma of low-income residential areas by revitalizing the local community and provide an alternative to integrating double-rental housing through connection with the local community. Improvements to the current community operating system include designing a space suitable for the characteristics of the housing type, operating a program suitable for the characteristics of the occupants, and preparing an evaluation system suitable for the type of community.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN UKRAINE

Introduction. Educational services in Ukraine play an important role in the formation of social and human capital, and the quality and level of education outline the acquired professional skills, characterize the ability to learn throughout life, promote innovative development of society, knowledge economy, increase competitiveness of graduates in the labour market their individual incomes and increase the welfare of the population of the state. That is, today the most important thing is that the society realizes that the provision of educational services is the key to the future of our state and the foundation of the development of the nation, society and individual. We believe that the progressive development of educational services in Ukraine is possible only if they are properly funded, effective, efficient and sound combination of financial and educational policies of the state. Methods. General scientific techniques and methods of economic research were used in the process of writing the article. The theoretical and methodological basis of intelligence was the analysis of scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the study of financial support of educational services in Ukraine, Internet resources. The study used general and special research methods, in particular: general and special – to ensure this goal; dialectical, abstract and logical – to substantiate theoretical positions and conclusions. Results. The article examined the state of financial support of educational services in Ukraine in recent years. The dynamics of consolidated budget expenditures on educational services in Ukraine, as well as in terms of state and local budgets was analysed. It was emphasized that the progressive development of educational services in Ukraine is possible provided they are properly funded. Discussion. Further research will focus on finding the optimal mechanism for financing educational services in Ukraine. Keywords: financial support, educational services, educational subvention, sources of financial support.

Social capital of rural territorial communities in Ukraine: problems of strengthening and directions of their solution

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to identify current problems of strengthening the social capital of rural territorial communities in the context of administrative and territorial reform with the definition of directions for their solution.
 Methodology / approach. The paper uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis to collect, process, and systematize the results of scientific research; abstract-logical and critical analysis – to identify possible risks due to the implementation of administrative-territorial reform; statistical – for data collection and systematization; method of comparisons – to identify the compliance of the dynamics of various forms of social capital to the potential of communities; graphic – to visualize the results of the assessment of the new spatial configuration of socio-territorial communities and the dynamics of accumulation of various forms of social capital; correlation and regression analysis – to determine the impact of certain indicators of social capital development on the economy of rural communities; induction and deduction – to substantiate the main directions of social capital development of rural communities in modern conditions. 
 Results. Restrictions on the development of social capital accumulation have been identified, which include: shadowing of interaction and low trust in social institutions, individualization of behavioral strategies, growth of economically inactive and socially vulnerable groups, and formation of networks of discriminatory relationships, spreading of norms of destructive social behavior, as well as the risks that may arise in the new spatial configuration of socio-territorial communities. It is established that the administrative-territorial reform at the local level has created certain preconditions for strengthening the potential of horizontally and vertically integrating social capital. It was found that the dynamics of territorial identification of the population of Ukraine in relation to their community is negative and indicates low social capital at the local level. The dynamics of forms of horizontally integrating social capital of rural communities, which are represented by agricultural cooperatives, farms, and inter-community cooperation, are analyzed and it is found that the potential of their development in Ukraine has not been realized yet. The necessity of implementation of systemic decisions on the development of social capital of communities to achieve the main goals of decentralization of management is proved. The main directions of the development of social capital of rural communities are substantiated taking into account modern features of their development.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The specifics of the formation of social capital of rural communities as small local communities are analyzed, taking into account the main determinants of influence, which include increasing territorial mobility and maintaining the asymmetry of spatial development in the direction of the center-periphery, the choice of adaptive behavioral strategies due to changes in the territorial identification of the population and the assessment of opportunities to achieve a certain level of well-being in the community. The main directions of social capital development as a prerequisite for uniting and mobilizing internal resources for rural development are substantiated based on existing problems and identified potential risks due to the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of government. Scientific and methodological bases of research on social capital at the local level under conditions of social and economic instability are improved.
 Practical value / implications. The results of the study will be useful for local governments of territorial communities formed as a result of local government reform and territorial organization of government, as well as district and regional state administrations, which focus on promoting inclusive community development and self-sufficiency.

Social capital of rural territorial communities in Ukraine: problems of strengthening and directions of their solution

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to identify current problems of strengthening the social capital of rural territorial communities in the context of administrative and territorial reform with the definition of directions for their solution.
 Methodology / approach. The paper uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis to collect, process, and systematize the results of scientific research; abstract-logical and critical analysis – to identify possible risks due to the implementation of administrative-territorial reform; statistical – for data collection and systematization; method of comparisons – to identify the compliance of the dynamics of various forms of social capital to the potential of communities; graphic – to visualize the results of the assessment of the new spatial configuration of socio-territorial communities and the dynamics of accumulation of various forms of social capital; correlation and regression analysis – to determine the impact of certain indicators of social capital development on the economy of rural communities; induction and deduction – to substantiate the main directions of social capital development of rural communities in modern conditions. 
 Results. Restrictions on the development of social capital accumulation have been identified, which include: shadowing of interaction and low trust in social institutions, individualization of behavioral strategies, growth of economically inactive and socially vulnerable groups, and formation of networks of discriminatory relationships, spreading of norms of destructive social behavior, as well as the risks that may arise in the new spatial configuration of socio-territorial communities. It is established that the administrative-territorial reform at the local level has created certain preconditions for strengthening the potential of horizontally and vertically integrating social capital. It was found that the dynamics of territorial identification of the population of Ukraine in relation to their community is negative and indicates low social capital at the local level. The dynamics of forms of horizontally integrating social capital of rural communities, which are represented by agricultural cooperatives, farms, and inter-community cooperation, are analyzed and it is found that the potential of their development in Ukraine has not been realized yet. The necessity of implementation of systemic decisions on the development of social capital of communities to achieve the main goals of decentralization of management is proved. The main directions of the development of social capital of rural communities are substantiated taking into account modern features of their development.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The specifics of the formation of social capital of rural communities as small local communities are analyzed, taking into account the main determinants of influence, which include increasing territorial mobility and maintaining the asymmetry of spatial development in the direction of the center-periphery, the choice of adaptive behavioral strategies due to changes in the territorial identification of the population and the assessment of opportunities to achieve a certain level of well-being in the community. The main directions of social capital development as a prerequisite for uniting and mobilizing internal resources for rural development are substantiated based on existing problems and identified potential risks due to the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of government. Scientific and methodological bases of research on social capital at the local level under conditions of social and economic instability are improved.
 Practical value / implications. The results of the study will be useful for local governments of territorial communities formed as a result of local government reform and territorial organization of government, as well as district and regional state administrations, which focus on promoting inclusive community development and self-sufficiency.

Social Capital Formation Through Teaching Methods at State Islamic High Schools in Malang

Social capital assumed to be one of the most important aspect which contributed in the societal development of a country. Putnam Analysis proved that the high level of social capital in a country can do so. To form that social capital, all elements in a country need to cooperate each other, including education. Education and social capital produce a very tight connection because the social capital is transmitted in school as an important part of education. This study will explore some teaching methods which can contribute in the formation of social capital in some Islamic high schools in Malang. This study is qualitative in nature. The research subjects were teachers and students in State Islamic High Schools 1 and 2 Malang. The data collection techniques used were interviews, observations, and documentation. The data were analyzed descriptively qualitatively. The results showed that the teachers have practiced some teaching methods that contributed in the social capital element formation of mutual trust, norms, and networking. The social capital formation also formed by the building and developing the productive networking between teachers and students.

Ethnic enclaves, social capital, and psychological well-being of immigrants: the case of Chinese older immigrants in Chicago

Objectives: Using a large sample of Chinese older immigrants in Chicago, this study asked two questions: (1) Is living in Chinatown associated with better psychological well-being? (2) What is the role of social capital in such an association? Methods: Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (N = 3,105). Depression and quality of life (QoL) were compared between those who lived in Chinatown and those who didn’t. Negative binomial regressions (for depression) and logistic regressions (for QoL) were performed to examine the associations between Chinatown residence, social capital, and the two outcomes. Results: Net of social capital and the control variables, living in Chinatown was marginally associated with fewer depressive symptoms (β= −.137, p = .057), but a significantly lower likelihood of reporting good QoL (OR = .797, CI: .661–.962). Although various forms of social capital were projective of positive psychological well-being, given the overall low social capital of the Chinatown residents, they heightened the mental health risks of this population. Conclusion: The neighborhood context may function to reproduce social disadvantage among aging immigrant populations. The findings point to the importance of intervention at the mezzo level to improve the psychological wellbeing of this population.

Exploring social capital for family caregivers of patients with chronic organ failure: study protocol for a concept mapping study

IntroductionMany family caregivers experience significant burdens, especially those who take care of patients with chronic organ failure. Although the social welfare system offers some material assistance, a more sustainable approach...