A Study on the Development of Social Capital Scale and Validation

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Social capital operates as a foundation for influencing the social quality and as a basis or social stability of the people and social development. The purpose of this study is to develop a quantified social capital scale for measuring and comparing the level of social capital of the communities and to verify the developed scale

Methods/Statistical analysis: For these, we define the multidimensional nature of social capital through the analysis of comparative studies and then formulate the preliminary questions that can be measured in each component after specifying the dimensions as trust, relations, common norms, safety and social participation. Focus group interviews were conducted to examine the preliminary questions, the concept of social capital, and the face and content validity of the dimensions that make up social capital. Consequently this study are as the following.

Findings: First, the preliminary factor analysis of social capital scale consisting of 20 items was conducted. Second, the final social capital scale was developed consisting of 16 items including five items in the relationship, three items in the trust, 3 items in the common norm, 2 items in the safety, and 3 items in the social participation. The results of the validity verification on the final social capital scale proved convergent validity and discriminant validity.

Improvements/Applications: A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions for the development of the social capital scale was distributed to a randomly selected population over the age of 19 with total 1500 copies, of which 1,054 were used for research.