Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Social Capital

2009 ◽  
pp. 18-42
Author(s):  
Ben Kei Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Scientific Legitimacy ◽  
Basic Understanding ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Conceptual Foundations ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

Social capital is a complex multifaceted and litigious theory, discussed in the Social Sciences and the Humanities. It is a theory increasingly researchers questioned its scientific legitimacy and yet paradoxically many other researchers continuously use it as a conceptual and theoretical framework to explain the structural and functional operations of communities. This Chapter discusses work done on the theory. It covers some of the theoretical controversy with a goal of aligning its conceptualization and distinguishing it from other types of capitals. The Chapter is organized first the basic theoretical and conceptual foundations of social capital are described. The aim is to present the reader with a basic understanding of what constitutes social capital, by opening discussion about various forms of capital(s)—as discussed in the disciplines of Economics and Sociology. Second, the Chapter discusses the origin of the theory as well as the work of key scholars who have contributed to the development of the theory. Furthermore, in order to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of the theory, the Chapter provides the reader with analysis of benefits and shortcomings of social capital both as a theoretical and analytical tool for studying communities.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Theoretical Concepts of Departure and the Potential of Further Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-135
Author(s):  
Daniel Drápala
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Intangible Cultural Heritage ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
The Social ◽  
National Environment ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

AbstractThis study discusses the use of the social capital concept in relation to the elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and their safeguarding. The author proceeds from theoretical concepts which were employed by some researchers outside ethnological research (P. Bourdieu, Y. F. Fukuyama, R. D. Putnam and others) in the last decades. He highlights one of the basic principles of social capital, which consists of sharing the real and the potential sources, knowledge, and information, which an individual or a group of persons acquire through more or less institutionalized relations. Based on the experience from the national environment (Czech Republic) and an international organization (UNESCO) he contemplates to which extent it is possible to apply the theoretical foundations of social capital on the ICH, where the principle of sharing of and mutual respect to cultural elements is one of the basic theses. The discussion about the social capital concept in social sciences has until now shown how wide the spectrum of possible perspectives is. There is not the only possible determinant interpretation and field. The chosen theme, the methodology, and the discipline’s tradition contribute to different territorial and conceptual adaptations of social capital, which, however, also generates a potential of using this concept in the form of transdisciplinary research. This can be used, in the future, for the study of intangible cultural heritage.

scholarly journals Music to My Ears: A Material-semiotic Analysis of Fetal Heart Sounds in Midwifery Prenatal Care

2021 ◽  
pp. 016224392110051
Author(s):  
Annekatrin Skeide
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Fetal Heart ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Parental Love ◽  
The Social ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
The Aesthetic

Unlike sonographic examinations, sonic fetal heartbeat monitoring has received relatively little attention from scholars in the social sciences. Using the case of fetal heartbeat monitoring as part of midwifery prenatal care in Germany, this contribution introduces music as an analytical tool for exploring the aesthetic dimensions of obstetrical surveillance practices. Based on ethnographic stories, three orchestrations are compared in which three different instruments help audiences to listen to what becomes fetal heartbeat music and to qualify fetal and pregnant lives in relation to each other. In the Doppler-based orchestration, audible heartbeat music is taken as a sign of a child in need of parental love and care cultivated to listen. The Pinard horn makes esoteric fetal music that can be appreciated by the midwife as a skilled instrumentalist alone and helps to enact a child hidden in the belly. The cardiotocograph brings about soothing music and a reassuring relationship with a child but also durable scripts of juridical beauty. This material-semiotic analysis amplifies how well-being is shaped in midwifery prenatal care practices.

Myth and Ethics in Business

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviva Geva
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Revolving Door ◽  
Real Case ◽  
Ethical Aspect ◽  
Rational Thinking ◽  
Humanities And Social Sciences ◽  
And Function

Abstract:Business myth is generally treated in business ethics literature as a mental obstacle that must be removed in order to prepare the ground for rational thinking on the ethical aspect of business conduct. This approach, which focuses on the content of myth, does not explicate the nature and function of myth. Based on the study of myth in the fields of humanities and social sciences, this paper develops a theoretical framework and analytical tool—the revolving-door model—for researching myth in business. The proposed framework (1) offers new perspectives on myth: the consumer’s, the producer’s, the mythologist’s, and the ethicist’s; (2) explicates various distortion mechanisms of the myth; and (3) enables a redefinition of the relation of business myth to business ethics. The applicability of this framework is demonstrated by means of a real case which sets the stage for examining a set of common myths.

Creation and Returns of Social Capital. A new Research Program

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-26
Author(s):  
Henk Flap
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Theoretical Development ◽  
Political Sciences ◽  
The Social ◽  
Relational Resources ◽  
New Research ◽  
Recent Theoretical Development

A recent theoretical development within the social sciences has been the emergence of the social capital research program. This is a program on relational resources, their creation, use. and effects. It took shape first within sociology and anthropology, nowadays it is also growing in popularity within political sciences and economics.

Social Capital: Old Hat or New Insight?

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Healy
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Empirical Measures ◽  
Proxy Variables ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Irish Context ◽  
The Social

Following work by James Coleman and Pierre Bourdieu in the 1980s, social scientists from different disciplinary backgrounds have engaged in a debate about the meaning and application of social capital. Questions arise about the coherence, novelty and analytical purchase of the term: there is a risk of overstretching the concept to include too much. Moreover, empirical measures and proxy variables are only very approximately matched to the underlying concept(s). Some applications of the concept lump together different strands of social behaviour and attitude and treats these as universally equivalent or ‘outside’ specific cultures, institutional settings, historical contexts and power structures. It is suggested that these problems cannot be entirely resolved and have parallel examples in all areas of empirical research in the social sciences. However, suggestions are made for greater trans-disciplinary research, dialogue and connection to policy and community practice in an Irish context. We can sum up our position as follows. Social capital has several adolescent characteristics: it is neither tidy nor mature; it can be abused, analytically and politically; its future is unpredictable; but it offers much promise.

scholarly journals Crafting analytical tools to study institutional change

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELINOR OSTROM ◽  
XAVIER BASURTO
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Institutional Change ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Processes Of Change ◽  
Mechanistic Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Predictive Theory ◽  
Analytical Tools

Abstract:Most powerful analytical tools used in the social sciences are well suited for studying static situations. Static and mechanistic analysis, however, is not adequate to understand the changing world in which we live. In order to adequately address the most pressing social and environmental challenges looming ahead, we need to develop analytical tools for analyzing dynamic situations – particularly institutional change. In this paper, we develop an analytical tool to study institutional change, more specifically, the evolution of rules and norms. We believe that in order for such an analytical tool to be useful to develop a general theory of institutional change, it needs to enable the analyst to concisely record the processes of change in multiple specific settings so that lessons from such settings can eventually be integrated into a more general predictive theory of change.

scholarly journals CORRELATION OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND POVERTY FARMERS IN ACEH

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saifuddin Yunus ◽  
Suadi Zainal ◽  
Fadli Jalil ◽  
Cut Maya Aprita Sari
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Poverty Rate ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose of the study: This study tried to examine the correlation between social capital and the poverty level of farmers in Aceh. It was linked to the uneven agricultural development of some rural areas in Aceh had caused the poverty rates in villages are higher than in the urban areas. Hence the social capital is important as other capitals in development and become the energies for the development and decreases the rate of poverty. Methodology: This research used a quantitative method by distributing the questionnaire to 300 respondents in Aceh Tamiang, Pidie Jaya and Aceh Tengah, Indonesia. The data analyzed by using the Spearman correlation with the assistance of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences to determining the relationship between two variables; social capital and poverty in farmers. Main Findings: This study found that there is a positive and significant correlation between social capital and the level of poverty. Famers who have a higher stock of social capital are found to be lower in the poverty rate. Applications of this study: The finding of this study is useful for the government of the Aceh government to explore and strengthen farmers' social capital to empowering their economies. It would be relevant to decreasing the poverty rate according to farmers in Aceh. Novelty/Originality of this study: The case of poverty in Aceh was widely explained by the numbers of the researcher. But there is no recent publication that has explained the relationship between poverty and social capital in Aceh. Therefore a strong level of social capital will be able to significantly reduce poverty in Aceh.

scholarly journals The effect of materialistic and nonmaterialistic motivational factors to employees' commitment to work

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-112
Author(s):  
Suvad Isaković ◽  
Ajdin Isaković ◽  
Kanita Isaković
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Done ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The success of each business relies on the employees' commitment to work, i.e., how and in which way employees perform their work. When consumers are offered the same or similar products produced by different companies and at different prices, and when the company's business result greatly depends on the quality of the work done, company management is more interested in securing its employees' full dedication to work. The generally accepted phrase "you get what you pay for" encouraged this research, whose purpose is to determine the strength of the relationship between materialistic and nonmaterialistic motivational factors to employees' commitment to work. This research starts with the assumption that materialistic factors of motivation are more important motivational factors for employees when compared to nonmaterialistic ones. Listed indicators of motivational factors represent independent variables, while the dependent variable represents the indicator 'work satisfaction', which determines the level of employees' commitment to work. The research had 147 participants who work in companies from different industries and different sizes. According to the Likert scale, a structured questionnaire was used to measure the employees' attitudes. Various methods for data processing in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Smart PLS3 program were used: Descriptive statistics of the sample (SPSS); Exploratory factor analysis - PCA analysis of principal components (SPSS): Factor analysis - a test of validity and confidence of the instruments (SmartPLS3); Bootstrapping analysis - testing of the hypothesis (SmartPLS3). The conducted research shows that nonmaterialistic motivational factors, including Interpersonal relations and advancement, statistically significantly influence satisfaction at work, i.e., employees' commitment to the work.

Assessing Uncertainty

Reputation ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 86-112
Author(s):  
Gloria Origgi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Strategic Positioning ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Way

This chapter introduces a set of tools from the social sciences, including social capital theory, the theory of networks, and the sociology of hierarchies. It explains how the mechanisms designed to evaluate reputations function and what makes them reliable. It also focuses on the assessment and reliability of reputations. People emit signals meant to convince others of the genuineness of their reputations. Similarly, all things, objects, ideas, and indeed everything that points beyond appearances to hidden qualities, emit signals that inform people more or less credibly that certain qualities really exist. The chapter also explains that reputation is the result not only of strategic positioning but also of the way in which such positioning is perceived by others.

Social Capital and Regional Development: Research Achievements and Remaining Problems

2012 ◽  
pp. 7-21
Author(s):  
Hans Westlund
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Development Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future ◽  
Almost All

In the last nineteen years we have witnessed an explosion of research on social capital in almost all the social sciences. The question addressed by this paper is the following one: what has been achieved during these years? The first part of the discussion is devoted to a review of the most influential definitions of social capital. The second point concerns the theoretical arguments on social capital's impact on regional development: how social capital affects production, incomes and other output that we normally consider to be development. Starting from these considerations, the main theoretical problems in literature will be pointed out. Finally, the last part of this work refers to the future for studies on social capital and local and regional development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document