Conferences

Measuring a complex concept like Social Capital (SC) in a survey can be a confusing (and costly) task, especially when there is no sole definition, and accordingly a number of different possible operationalizations. It is inevitable to focus on a concise definition and formulate a compact instrument to make measurement feasible. In this paper we present a proposal for a possible operationalization of SC.

We consider Social Capital as individual asset, as useful resources, accessible through social networks that helps to achieve goals which would not be achievable otherwise. The individual value of the available SC depends on (1) the availability of network contacts, (2) the capability of these network contacts (the amount of resources), (3) the willingness of these network contacts to make their resources available and further (4) the situation and the goal to be achieved (matching of resources and goals). Further we distinguish between informal and formal SC, arising from interpersonal networks or respectively from formal organizations (state, associations, church, etc.).

We focus on Social Support as manifestation of, or “crystalized” Social Capital. We will show that it is plausible to measure SC by measuring the subjective expected certainty of support by network contacts in specific situations. This form of measurement integrates the main characteristics of individual social capital – availability, capability, willingness (and trust) into a single question. The question gets adapted and asked for a number of situations (or goals) and for formal and informal SC. The result is thus a relatively compact instrument that grows with the number of situations and goals.
The question is whether the assumed connection between the amount of SC and the subjective expected certainty of support holds true empirically and whether the complex cognitive task of evaluating the available SC overburdens the respondents or not.