Process / pipelineSocial Capital

Social Capital Index

The Social Capital Index measures the stock of social connections, networks, and civic participation within an individual's or community's social ecosystem. Rooted in the theoretical work of Pierre Bourdieu and popularized by Robert Putnam, social capital encompasses bonding capital (ties within homogeneous groups), bridging capital (ties across different groups), and linking capital (connections to institutions and power). Comprehensive indices assess networks, trust, organizational membership, volunteering, and informal mutual aid.

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Sources

  1. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster. link
  2. Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241-258). Greenwood Press. link
  3. Woolcock, M., & Narayan, D. (2000). Social capital: Implications for development theory, research, and policy. World Bank Economic Review, 15(2), 225-249. DOI: 10.1093/wber/15.2.225

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Referenced by

ScholarGateSocial Capital Index (Comprehensive Social Capital Assessment Index). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/political-sociology/social-capital-index