scholarly journals The role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesamedin Gholami ◽  
Amir Alambeigi ◽  
Mohammadreza Farrokhnia ◽  
Omid Noroozi ◽  
Mostafa Karbasioun
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Generic Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Development Of Students

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills. For this purpose, the effect of various social capital dimensions on students' generic skills development was examined.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted among 190 third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in one of the colleges of agriculture and natural resources in Iran. The partial least square method was used to examine the relationships among various social capital dimensions (i.e. social values, social trust, social networks, social cohesion, social participation, social communications and information sharing) with students' generic skills.FindingsThe findings showed that social networks and social participation are effective factors in the generic skills development of students. A model designed for the development of students' generic skills based on their social capital level predicted up to 33% of generic skills' variances. Furthermore, the multi-group analysis showed that males and females vary on how various social capital dimensions affect their generic skills. In this respect, the social participation dimension had a significantly greater impact on female students' generic skills, whereas the generic skills of male students were influenced more by the social cohesion dimension.Practical implicationsDeveloping generic skills through social capital can be considered as an effective strategy in countries that do not have formal programs for developing students' generic skills. Additionally, higher education policymakers should present a more supportive approach for developing generic skills of female students through social participation in the campuses.Originality/valueSo far, no study has examined the relationships among various social capital dimensions and students' generic skills in Iran. The picture is even more unclear when it comes to the differences between male and female students. The results of this study confirmed the importance of social networks and social participation in the universities to support students and to improve their generic skills and, consequently, their employability competencies. Furthermore, it could be inferred that male and female students have similarities and also differences in terms of the effect of social capital on developing generic skills that can provide a path for future studies.

The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities – a theoretical study

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-196
Author(s):  
Maja Dorota Wojciechowska
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

PurposeSocial capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-Félix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve.FindingsA critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources.Originality/valueThe social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.

scholarly journals The Social Environment’s Relationship With Frailty: Evidence From Existing Studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan Duppen ◽  
Michaël C. J. Van der Elst ◽  
Sarah Dury ◽  
Deborah Lambotte ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family

Increasingly, policymakers assume that informal networks will provide care for frail older people. While the literature has mainly discussed the role of the family, broader social networks are also considered to be important. However, these social networks can diminish in later life. This systematic review investigates whether the social environment increases the risk of frailty or helps to prevent it. Findings from 15 original studies were classified using five different factors, which denoted five dimensions of the social environment: (a) social networks, (b) social support, (c) social participation, (d) subjective neighborhood experience, and (e) socioeconomic neighborhood characteristics. The discussion highlights that the social environment and frailty are indeed related, and how the neighborhood dimensions and social participation had more consistent results than social support and social networks. Conclusively, recommendations are formulated to contemplate all dimensions of the social environment for further research examining frailty and community care.

Social capital, employees' well-being and knowledge sharing: does enterprise social networks use matter? Case of Tunisian knowledge-intensive firms

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Berraies ◽  
Rym Lajili ◽  
Rached Chtioui
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Enterprise Social Networks ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe objective of this research is to examine the mediating role of employees' well-being in the workplace in the relationship between the dimensions of social capital, namely structural, relational and cognitive social capital and knowledge sharing, as well as the moderating role of enterprise social networks between knowledge sharing and employees' well-being.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was performed within a sample of 168 middle managers working in knowledge-intensive firms in Tunisia. The Partial Least Squares method was used to analyze the data collected.FindingsResults highlight the importance of the dimensions of social capital as a lever for boosting knowledge sharing. It also reveals that employees' well-being plays a mediating role in the link between structural and relational social capital and knowledge sharing. Moreover, findings show that while enterprise social networks use does not moderate the relationship between employees' well-being and knowledge sharing, it has a positive and significant effect on knowledge sharing.Originality/valueOn the basis of a socio-technical perspective of knowledge management, this research pioneers the examination of the mediating effect of employees' well-being in the link between dimensions of social capital and knowledge sharing and the moderating role of enterprise social networks use within knowledge-intensive firms. Findings of this study may help managers of knowledge-intensive firms in boosting knowledge sharing within organizations, in improving knowledge workers' well-being and thus in motivating and retaining these talented employees.

Social capital, labour market status and wages: some evidence from Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-560
Author(s):  
Antonio Caparrós Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Market Status ◽  
Labour Market Status

PurposeThis article analyses the social capital's influence on the Spanish labour market. In particular, this study examines to what extent the social capital increases the likelihood of being employed, taking into account different labour market status, and diverse dimensions of the social capital. Focusing on wage earners, it is also analysed whether network structures in Spain influence on the wage earnings.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology applied to analyse the labour market status is a multinomial logit model. For the analysis of wages, it is specified a wage model with sample selection bias. In both cases, social capital indicators are included as regressors.FindingsThe results show that social participation exerts a positive influence on the probability of being self-employed, and lowers the likelihood of being unemployed. Moreover, it is verified that the interaction with family members or close friends influence positively on wages.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research should emphasise how employers assess the workers' competences associated with the social capital.Practical implicationsThe findings provide knowledge to policymakers useful to increase the role of social participation in the labour market.Social implicationsThe importance of social network as an instrument for the job search must be enhanced.Originality/valueThis article overcomes some drawbacks associated with the analysis of social capital from an aggregate perspective. Furthermore, social capital indicators are obtained using the Categorical Principal Components Analysis (CATPCA), which is unprecedented in the economic literature.

Social participation in the definition of budgetary instruments

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 737-755
Author(s):  
Luiz Antonio Felix Júnior ◽  
Wênyka Preston Leite Batista da Costa ◽  
Luciana Gondim de Almeida Guimarães ◽  
Glauber Ruan Barbosa Pereira ◽  
Walid Abbas El-Aouar
Keyword(s):  
Social Participation ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Popular Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose The participation of society is a valuable aspect of the governability of cities, for it strengthens the citizens’ collaborative component. Such participation, which is seen as social, is considered an essential element for the design of a smart city. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to social participation in the definition of budgetary instruments’ planning. Design/methodology/approach Concerning the methodological instruments, this study is characterised by a quantitative and descriptive approach and uses a multivariate data analysis with a sample of 235 respondents. Findings The study’s findings identified a framework that portrays elements that collaborate with the social participation in the definition of the public administration’s budgetary instruments, which are considered as elements that are able to develop the role of the popular participation and are characterised by the definition of a smart city by enabling more assertiveness in society’s needs. Practical implications Identification of a framework that brings out elements that are able to develop the popular participation in the definition of budgetary instruments. Then, one scale of elements that contribute to social participation in the definition of the public administration’s budgetary instruments theoretically represented and statistically validated, thus contributing to the continuity of studies on social participation. Social implications Through studies on social participation in budgetary planning, it is possible to guarantee a better allocation of public resources through intelligent governability. Originality/value The research can bring theoretical elements about social participation in the definition of budget instruments for a statistical convergence through the perception of the sample.

Social Capital as Network Capital: Looking at the Role of Social Networks among Not-For-Profits

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Prell
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Network Approach ◽  
Unique Context

Social capital's rise in popularity is a phenomenon many have noted (Kadushin, 2006; Warde and Tampubolon, 2002; Portes, 1998). Although the concept is a relatively old one, it is the works of Bourdieu (1986), Coleman (1988; 1990), and Putnam (1993, 2000) that often get credited for popularizing the concept. These three, while sharing a view that social networks are important for social groups and society, place differing levels of emphasis on the role of networks in building trust or the exchange of various types of resources. In this paper, I briefly revisit these three theorists, and the criticisms each have received, to provide background for discussing recent research on social capital from a social networks approach. The social network approach is then applied to my own case study looking at the relations among not-for-profits, and special attention is given to the unique context of not-for-profits, and how this context might elaborate or challenge current thoughts on social, aka ‘network’ capital. A final discussion is also given to some measurement problems with the network approach to social capital.

scholarly journals PERANAN MODAL SOSIAL MELALUI PENGEMBANGAN KELEMBAGAAN DAN PEMBERDAYAAN RUMAH TANGGA MISKIN DI DAERAH PESISIR (Studi Kasus: Rumah Tangga Di Kecamatan Koto IV Tarusan Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan)

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Neng Kamarni
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
The Social ◽  
Household Members

The purpose of research include studying the characteristics of social capital in the communities especially poor fishermen fishing in the coastal areas, Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan, studying characteristic of social networks and institutional owned by poor households, which is the primary vehicle for empowerment, and to analyze the contribution and role of social capital to welfare of fishermen households in Kecamatan Koto IV Tarusan Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan, and to formulate and create a model for institutional development for the empowerment of poor fishermen.The regression results obtained influence SC (social capital) on the level of social welfare is positive, the higher the social capital of the area, the higher the welfare seaboard district. Kec. Koto XI Tarusan. So also with the HC (human capital) suggests that increased education will improve the welfare of the community. Effect of land will provide opportunities to increase the welfare of society. Variable Z (number of household members) suggests that the increase in the number of family members will reduce the level of social welfare.

scholarly journals Social networks and creation of social capital in second-home localities

Geografie ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-256
Author(s):  
Tereza Kůsová ◽  
Dana Fialová ◽  
Marta Hučínová
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Geographical Proximity ◽  
Home Owner ◽  
Second Home ◽  
Permanent Resident ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Permanent Residents

Second home tourism has major economic, environmental and social impacts on the localities in question. The aim of the presented study is to find out how second home tourism influences the social environment of a municipality, and whether and how it contributes to the creation of social capital and the knowledge transfer. It ensues from the use of relational data that links appear in the localities primarily on the neighbourly basis. In some cases, the contacts are also used in the place of permanent residence. As a result, the social networks and the knowledge that appear among the participants also have an impact outside a locality in question. The connection to permanent residents of a municipality is rather weak. One can see here an obvious link primarily to major actors or permanent residents living near second-home owners. When establishing contacts, this points out the importance of geographical proximity rather than the often accentuated role of the relationship “second-home owner versus permanent resident”.

scholarly journals Does Participation in Social Networks Foster Trust and Respect for Other People—Evidence from Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family

A shortage of social capital may hinder sustainable development. According to the “social capital dream” there is a virtuous circle between participation in social networks, trust, and cooperation. It is a promising idea for proponents of sustainability, as it is easier to promote participation than affect social norms. Participation may, however, lead to particularized and not generalized trust, which hinders social inclusion and undermines the idea of a sustainable society. The aim of this paper is to validate the role of participation in informal and formal social networks in enhancing social trust and respect towards others. The relevance of both strong and weak ties is considered. Fixed-effects modeling on three-wave data from a Polish social survey is utilized. An increase in generalized trust corresponds with an increase in the acquaintances network, a decrease in the family and friends network, and an increase in volunteering. A rise in expectations about the cooperativeness of others is enhanced by an increase in the family and friends network, and by volunteering. The lack of respect for some groups of people is not affected by participation in organizations and informal networks. Overall within-person heterogeneity is small, suggesting that possibilities for fostering moral trust by participation are limited.

scholarly journals Social networks, accessed and mobilised social capital and the employment status of older workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 356-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaberi Gayen ◽  
Robert Raeside ◽  
Ronald McQuaid
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Older People ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of social networks, and the social capital embedded in them, to secure employment if someone had become unemployed after the age of 50 years and to reveal the process of accessing and mobilising that social capital. Design/methodology/approach A case study of a Scottish labour market was undertaken which involved an interview-based survey of those who became unemployed in their early 50’s and tried to regain employment. The interview had structured and unstructured parts which allowed both quantitative and qualitative analysis to compare those who were successful in regaining work with those who were not. The uniqueness of the paper is the use of social network components while controlling for other socio-economic and demographic variables in job search of older workers. Findings Those older people who were unemployed and, returned to employment (reemployed) had a higher proportion of contacts with higher prestige jobs, their job searching methods were mainly interpersonal and the rate of finding their last job via their social networks was higher than those who remained unemployed. Both groups mobilised social capital (MSC), but those reemployed accessed higher “quality” social capital. “Strong ties”, rather than “weak ties”, were found to be important in accessing and mobilising social capital for the older workers who returned to employment. Research limitations/implications This work is limited to a local labour market and is based on a small but informative sample. However, it does show that policy is required to allow older people to enhance their social networks by strengthening the social capital embedded in the networks. The results support the use of intermediaries as bridges to help compensate for older people who have weak social networks. Besides the policy implications, the paper also has two distinct research implications. First, the use of social network component to the existing literature of older workers’ job search. Second, exploring the type and relational strength with network members to explain older workers’ reemployment. Practical implications The paper illustrates that how accessed and MSC can be measured. Social implications As populations age, this work points to an approach to support older people to re-enter employment and to include them in society. Originality/value The paper extends social network and employment literature to fill gaps on how older people require to both access and mobilise social capital. The importance of “strong ties” in the reemployment of older workers contrasts with much of the literature on younger workers where the “strength of weak ties” so far has been regarded as essential for successful job search. Measures are forwarded to reveal the relevance of social capital. The policy value of the work is in suggesting ways to facilitate older people re-enter or remain in work and hence sustain their well-being.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document