A report concluded that area-level estimates of social capital contributed little to the explanation of variations in health outcomes.
Source: John Mohan, Steve Barnard, Kelvyn Jones and Liz Twigg, Social Capital, Place and Health: Creating, validating and applying small-area indicators in the modelling of health outcomes, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
An article questioned whether the concept of social capital helped an understanding of why some communities had weaker networks compared to others (drawing on an empirical example from Belfast, Northern Ireland).
Source: Madeleine Leonard, 'Bonding and bridging social capital', Sociology, Volume 38 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Dec
Research found no evidence of Catholic/Protestant differences in social capital in Northern Ireland. Although there were statistically significant differences in social capital related to socio-economic status (higher socio-economic status being associated with higher levels of social capital) and between rural and urban dwellers (rural dwellers scored higher), in absolute terms these differences were small.
Source: Ed Cairns, Jon Van Til and Arthur Williamson, Social Capital, Collectivism-Individualism and Community Background in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Jun
An article reported a study which used the accounts of parents, supplemented by those of their children (aged 13-17), to develop understanding of the role of families in the production and garnering of social capital. It argued that non-traditional family forms did not necessarily represent deficits in social capital, but rather might actively utilize alternative supportive factors and structures through previously unidentified family processes and network associations.
Source: Peter Seaman and Helen Sweeting, 'Assisting young people's access to social capital in contemporary families: a qualitative study', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 7 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Jun
A collection of papers examined the idea of social capital, and its categories of trust and networks, in research and policy making.
Source: Jane Franklin (ed.), Politics, Trust and Networks: Social capital in critical perspective, Working Paper 7, Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group/South Bank University (020 7815 5750)
Links: Working paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
An article argued that, although they were similar in their vision for a healthy society, the concepts of social capital and social inclusion adopted different perspectives. This was illustrated by reference to services for people with learning disabilities.
Source: Peter Bates and Fabian Davis, 'Social capital, social inclusion and services for people with learning disabilities', Disability & Society, Volume 19 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Jun
A new book examined the indicators used by the Audit Commission to measure local quality of life - including social capital and community cohesion.
Source: Gabriel Chanan, Measures of Community, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375)
Links: No link
Date: 2004-May
A report presented a new economic rationale for public service broadcasting, based on the positive impact broadcasting could have on social capital.
Source: Martin Brookes, Watching Alone: Social capital and public service broadcasting, Work Foundation (0870 165 6700) and British Broadcasting Corporation
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
An article described a project which provided the basis for a preliminary assessment of what a tool for measuring social capital could contribute to the development and implementation of policies at the local level.
Source: Martin Roche, 'Social policy and social capital: a clear case of putting merit before method?', Social Policy and Society, Volume 3 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Apr
Researchers described a project aimed at developing a 'theoretically-informed and empirically-validated' measure of social capital, using the British Household Panel Survey.
Source: Yaojun Li, Andrew Pickles and Mike Savage, Social Capital: Developing a measure and assessing its value in social research, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
A collection of studies attempted to assess the relative importance of the concept of social capital as it related to different contexts and population groups. It formed part of a larger programme of research commissioned to investigate the relationship between social capital and health, paying particular attention to issues of definition and measurement for use at the local research level.
Source: Antony Morgan and Catherine Swann (eds.), Social Capital for Health: Issues of definition, measurement and links to health, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
An article said that between 1995 and 2000 the amount of unpaid adult care provided in the United Kingdom increased by around 10 per cent. The value of voluntary work done in the same period fell by almost 26 per cent.
Source: Perry Francis and Harminder Tiwana, 'Unpaid household production in the United Kingdom, 1995 2000', Economic Trends, January 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan
It was reported that the official General Household Survey would, from 2004, attempt to measure social capital, by asking questions such as whether people did voluntary work and how often they saw friends and relatives.
Source: The Guardian, 28 January 2004
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan