Social Capital [I] Exercise for the Research Master Multivariate Statistics W. M. van der Veld University of Amsterdam

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences2 Goal of the ‘groups work’ Formulate a research question Develop a (testable) theory Develop measurement instruments Data for the test Analyze the data Presentation of research results

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences3 Social Capital Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (R.D. Putnam, 2000). The “Bowling Alone” thesis: –Younger age cohorts are less inclined to engage in community life and in politics, and also less likely to trust their fellow citizens. –Older age cohorts are much more motivated in these respects. –Social Capital is declining with age cohort replacements. Can we reverse this process => determinants Social Capital is formed by: –The reciprocal relations between ‘engagement in community life’, ‘trust in fellow citizens’, and –this facilitates ‘engagement in politics’.

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences4 Social Capital The research question: Is this true? Social Capital = Social Trust ↔ Civic Engagement In addition: –Are there any other explanations for social trust, other than civic engagement, that could effect social capital? –Are there any other explanations for civic engagement, other than social trust, that could effect social capital? The basic theoretical model.

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences5 Goal of the ‘groups work’ Formulate a research question Develop a (testable) theory Develop measurement instruments Data for the test Analyze the data Presentation of research results

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences6 Social Capital Whether or not there is a relationship between ST and CVP, cannot be simply derived from the observed correlation. (Why? Wait and see.) Are there any other explanations for social trust, other than civic engagement, that we should control for? 1.Subjective well-being (life satisfaction) 2.Age 3.Education 4.Real income 5.Size of settlement 6.Divorced 7.Unemployed 8.Crime victim 9.Frequency of newspaper reading 10.Hours watching the news (etc) on television 11.Hours watching television in general 12.Psychological disorder (acrophobia, fear of alone in the dark, etc.) 13.Civic engagement 14.Political trust

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences7 Social Capital Are the suggested explanations, also explanations for civic engagement? Some probably are, among others: 1.Education 2.Age 3.Real income 4.Size of settlement 5.Divorced 6.Unemployed 7.Crime victim 8.Hours watching television in general 9.Psychological disorder (acrophobia, etc.) 10.Political trust Why is it important to think about common explanations? It might be that these explanations effect the relationship between social trust and civic engagement; which is social capital. This can be shown with path analysis.

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences8 Social Trust Observed Relationship Estimated ‘true’ Relationship

Quantitative Methods in The Social Sciences9 Next time A presentation of your research plan. An example of how to develop measurement instruments. An example of how to analyze data with LISREL.