1 / 16

An Introduction to Social Capital

The Center for Social Capital www.centerforsocialcapital.org. An Introduction to Social Capital. CSC. Intro to Social Capital. Robert Putnam defines Social Capital as “the social networks and the norms of trustworthiness and reciprocity that arise from them.”. CSC.

gwydion
Download Presentation

An Introduction to Social Capital

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Center for Social Capital www.centerforsocialcapital.org An Introduction to Social Capital CSC

  2. Intro to Social Capital • Robert Putnam defines Social Capital as “the social networks and the norms of trustworthiness and reciprocity that arise from them.” CSC

  3. Intro to Social Capital Social Capital Focuses on: • Who knows Whom (Social Networks) • The Character of these Networks • The Strength of our Ties • Levels of Trust • Levels of Reciprocity CSC Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006)

  4. Intro to Social Capital Social Networks Matter: • Thick Trust: where trust extends only to known friends & associates • Thin Trust: where trust extends to include total strangers CSC Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006)

  5. Intro to Social Capital Trust Growing Elements: • Repeated exposure & shared spaces • Honesty in Communications • Follow-Through on Commitments • Consistency in Behavior CSC Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006); Griffin-Hammis Associates

  6. Intro to Social Capital Types of Social Capital: • Public-Regard: we are tied to formal groups (City Council; PTA; People First; Kiwanis) • Private Regard: we are tied to informal groups (Church; Softball team; Neighborhood Watch) • Formal vs. Informal (Bylaws & Committees vs. Social/Interest/Hobby relationships) CSC Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  7. Intro to Social Capital Types of Social Capital: • Bridging: Social ties that attempt to cut across differences including Race, Gender, Disability, Class, Religion… • Bonding: Links people together like themselves (special interest groups, neighborhood associations, hobby clubs…) CSC Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  8. Intro to Social Capital Intensity of Social Capital: • Strong: Someone with whom you might share intimate or serious issues • Weak: More episodic and casual • Example: You share stronger ties with your doctor and weaker ties with volunteers cooking at the pancake breakfast CSC Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  9. Intro to Social Capital Bridging & Bonding Public & Private Regard Strong & Weak Ties Formal & Informal Thick & Thin Trust CSC Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  10. Intro to Social Capital Intensity of Social Capital: • Stronger ties are useful for creating social support and sustained efforts; Weaker ties are more useful for networking and job searches CSC Wuthnow, 1998; Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  11. Intro to Social Capital Goal of Social Capital: • Raising Social Capital to improve one’s standing in a community (e.g. using bridging capital to increase awareness of disability access issues in a community) • Targeted at Specific Problem-Solving (e.g. using bonding capital to connect a job seeker with someone with similar career goals) CSC Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates

  12. Intro to Social Capital Getting Others Interested & Involved : • Appeal to people’s motivations (shared personal & professional interests and self-interest, hobbies, affiliation needs) • Avoid yet another meeting or committee approach • Appeal to their civic pride • Make the task appear reasonable CSC Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight

  13. Intro to Social Capital Getting Others Interested & Involved : • Very Small Group or One-to-One Start-up conversations and recruitment • Set a clear outcome • Satisfy people’s motivators CSC Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight

  14. Intro to Social Capital Disability Issues: • Employment • Health Improvement • Home Ownership • Isolation • Asset Accumulation • Transportation…. CSC Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight

  15. Intro to Social Capital Systemic & Organizational Issues: • Changing • Outdated policy and practice • Turnover • Funding • Disconnected Personnel…. CSC Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight

  16. Intro to Social Capital Project Ideas: • Establish a Microloan Fund • Establish Car Pools • Peer-Mentored After School & Summer Jobs/Businesses • Address Stereotyping by local media • Address local restaurant Barriers • Connect People to Specific Social Activities as Individuals…. CSC Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight

More Related