I will be compiling a list of research projects being conducted by research students from all around the world. This will provide a guide to anyone want to study social capital as to the different types of methodologies and approaches that one can take with social capital.
If you have a project you would like to include on this page please contact me.
| Title | Researcher | Methodology | Findings | Challenges |
| Bridging Social Capital, the power and development of transformative processes: a story of two city clubs | Dr Timothy E. Durant PhD Department of Political Science and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon |
Qualitative | ||
| Social capital sites : understanding digital networks from a resource perspective | Dr. Felix Sebastian Hußenöder | Quantitative | In the empirical part of the thesis, the size and growth of users` digital facebook networks were analyzed using a facebook application, online surveys and samples of German university students. Results showed linear growth of networks of two contacts per week that was positively related to facebook use. Furthermore, larger networks at the beginning of the semester were positively related to users` number of offline contacts, distance to their last places of residence, Extraversion, identification with fellow students, and facebook use. Users` network sizes and the number of isolated contacts in those networks were positively connected to their perceived online social capital, while the number of isolated groups of contacts (components) and users` betweenness centrality were not. Results also showed that perceived online social capital is an empirically valid concept and positively connected to facebook use, satisfaction with the website, and communication. In general, users indicated little to medium use of facebook for seeking coping-related information and they reported low to medium perceptions of network demand. Theoretical, empirical, and methodological implications of the thesis were discussed. | |
| The Role of Social Capital in the Heiveld Rooibos Tea Co-operative in the Northern Cape | Julie Carlisle MBA Rhodes Business School |
Qualitative | ||
| Examining the relationships between deceased organ donation, gift exchange theory and religion: A focus on Luton and Dunstable Polonia | Chloe Sharp PhD Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire Author link 1 |
Qualitative Constructivist Grounded Theory – Strassian Approach Semi-structured one-to-one and small group interviews |
A descriptive conceptual model was created and the main core construct is the context of decisions about donation; deciding about one’s own organs and for a relative. Putnam’s (1993) perspective on social capital was introduced alongside gift exchange theory to gain fuller insight into social bonds created when giving gifts. It was found that participants wanted to contribute towards the UK society and that aspects such as having a sense of belonging and positive experiences in living in Luton and Dunstable could have had an impact on this preference. | In relation to social capital, the main difficulty was defining and framing social capital for interview guides and discussing the concept with the lay person and creating questions that encapsulated key aspects of social capital. |
| Jumping through Hoops: Delivering More Effective Community Consultation During the Grant Application process | Lynne H. De Weaver PhD Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus |
Mixed Discourse Analysis Action Research Online Survey & Case Studies |
That Regional Program Coordinators play a key role in building social capital in small regional communities that apply for government grants. Current community consultation models often do not deal with underlying social capital issues in these communities and may inhibit community empowerment. |
My research focused on the uptake & use of Information Communications & Technologies & internet access as a means of community empowerment. |
| Social Capital in Chile, The Case Study of Santiago. Design and Implementation of projects to create Social Capital in Santiago | Pedro Solimano Graduate Universidad del Desarrollo |
Mixed, but strongly qualitative Study of types of Social Capital, study of projects to create Social Capital |
Social Capital is greatly underdeveloped in Chile. Compared to countries of the OECD it has worse social capital markers (i.e. trust, confidence, associativity) | I am very satisfied, I feel the concept is properly conceptualised and I have reached a objective conclusion |
| Money, Friends and Coping Day to Day; An inclusive research project exploring poverty and social capital in the lives of people with a learning disability | Liz Tilly PhD Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol Author link |
Qualitative Grounded theory, inclusive research Focus group, interview, action research activities, reflections |
The research group participants; people with a mild learning disability all benefited from ‘strong bonding social capital’ from family and close friends, but lacked ‘bridging social capital’ to people outside their social networks. | |
| Grupo Gestor do Turismo Rural do Rio Grande do Sul: um estudo sob a ótica de redes colaborativas e do capital social (The Rural Tourism Steering Group of the Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil): a study from the perspective of collaborative networks and social capital | Isabel Angelica de Andrade Bock Master (Stricto Sensu) Universidade de Caxias do Sul (Caxias do Sul, Brazil) |
Qualitative Ethnography Documental research, interviews and direct observation |
The results indicate that in propositional and operational terms the group can be characterized as a collaborative interorganizational network, alternating moments of intense collaboration and independent work, whose agents have their relationships sustained by trust, norms of reciprocity, identification. These are determinative elements for the group strengthening and continuity, as it is facing a period of transformation. | Social capital suitable conceptualization |
| Health inequalities among cancer patiens: the role of social relations | Paola Canestrini PhD Teramo University and Bologna University (Italy) |
Mixed method Meta-analisi on literature review, focus group, narrative based medicine interviews, questionnaire |
Beside socio-economic status, social relations play both a positive and a negative role on how cancer patients experience their illness | It is hard to conceptualise social relations as social capital |
| Social capital and educational innovation | Corry Ehlen Masters Open University of the Netherlands |
Mixed method, mainly qualitative Soca is important condition for Innovation; three-dimensional model of Nahapiet and Ghoshal is good framework to investigate the soca processes in innovation projects; innovation is gradual improvement and radical innovation; innovation is cocreation and social learning; leading to knowledge productivity; asks positive interventions to support professionals in innovation work. Methodology: longitudinal research of two large-scale innovation projects Overview of methods: participative observation, interviews, surveys; grounded research. |
Soca is the power in innovation projects; this perspective asks specific interventions; model of N&G needs extension with a fouth dimension: the action dimension. Found many variables (grounding) of the four dimensions. | Grasping the processes of social capital asks intensive participative research; results are not seen as interesting for quantitative interested journals. |
| Koro at Lipunang Pilipino: An Inquiry into Social Capital and Human Capital Development in Philippine Choirs | Abigail D. de Leon Ph.D. University of Asia and the Pacific |
Qualitative Proposed a new theory called “Intangible Asset Theory of Development” built on social capital theories and principles combining, Francis Fukuyama, Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, and Robert Putnam Multiple case study method combined with other qualitative techniques. Identifying four cases and mainly using qualitative techniques of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, document analysis, and participant observations, the study has also developed two analytical tools to sort out the qualitative data gathered from these traditional techniques. |
The study concludes positively that social capital and human capital values are developed within the choir music practice. | The discovered that these values have difficulty in transcending the bounds of their respective groups or towns in order for these to be effective sources of bigger notions of a “national identity.” |
There is no focus on Gender and Social Capital but it is realy a current issues in our world.
What do you have in mind Martha?