Social Capital Scale
Also known as: SCS
The Social Capital Scale is a self-report measure designed to assess the presence and extent of social capital in individuals and communities. Building on Robert D. Putnam's influential work on social capital as shared norms, networks, and reciprocity, the scale measures dimensions of social connection, participation in community life, and access to social resources. Multiple versions exist, including the scale developed by Onyx and Bullen (2000) with community-level validation.
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When to use it
Use the Social Capital Scale in research on community health, civic engagement, neighborhood effects, and social well-being. Suitable for community-based research, organizational studies, and comparative investigations of social cohesion. The scale is valuable when examining relationships between social capital and mental health, health behaviors, crime rates, or educational outcomes.
Strengths & limitations
- Directly operationalizes Putnam's influential theory of social capital into measurable dimensions
- Multiple validated versions available for different contexts (individuals, communities, organizations)
- Items capture both bonding and bridging social capital (within-group and between-group ties)
- Extensive research base demonstrating relationships with community health, well-being, and economic outcomes
- The concept of social capital is contested; different researchers emphasize different dimensions
- May be subject to social desirability bias; respondents may overstate civic participation and trust
- Items may emphasize Western concepts of community participation and civic engagement
- Cross-sectional scores do not capture dynamic changes in social capital over time
Frequently asked
What is the difference between bonding and bridging social capital?
Bonding social capital refers to strong ties within groups (family, close friends, similar others), which reinforce group identity and provide emotional support. Bridging social capital refers to weaker ties across diverse groups, which provide information and access to broader opportunities. Both are valuable but serve different functions.
Can social capital be negative?
Yes. High social capital within a group can facilitate discrimination against outsiders, enforce conformity, or facilitate crime if norms are antisocial. Social capital is a neutral structural property; whether it produces positive or negative outcomes depends on the norms and goals of the networks involved.
How does the Social Capital Scale measure community-level capital versus individual variations?
Different versions emphasize different levels. Individual-level versions measure individual participation and trust. Community-level versions aggregate individual responses to characterize neighborhood social capital. Some instruments measure access to social networks and resources (individual) while others measure shared norms (community).
Can social capital be built intentionally?
Yes, though the process is complex and slow. Community centers, volunteer opportunities, civic organizations, and inclusive institutions can build bridging social capital. However, structural conditions like economic inequality and residential segregation make social capital building difficult.
Sources
- Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster. link ↗
- Onyx, J., & Bullen, P. (2000). Measuring social capital in five communities. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 36(1), 23–42. DOI: 10.1177/0021886300361002 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Social Capital Scale. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/social-psychology/social-capital-scale
Which method?
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