A Computational Model of Social Capital

2009 ◽  
pp. 208-114
Author(s):  
Ben Kei Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Key Variables

This Chapter presents the Bayesian Belief computational model of social capital developed within the context of virtual communities discussed in Chapter 7. The development of the model was based on insights drawn from research. The Chapter presents the key variables constituting social capital in virtual communities and shows how the model was created and updated. The scenarios described in the Chapter were authentic cases drawn from several virtual communities. The key issues predicted by the model as well as challenges encountered in building, verifying and updating the model are discussed. The ultimate goal of the Chapter is to share experiences in developing a model of social capital and to encourage the reader to think about how such experiences can be extended to model similar constructs or build more scenarios to update the model. The model presented in the Chapter is a proof-of-a concept and a demonstration of a procedure. Notwithstanding that some of the model’s predictions are accurate while other require more substantial empirical corroboration.

A Computational Model of Social Capital in Virtual Communities

2011 ◽  
pp. 318-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben K. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Key Variables

This chapter presents a Bayesian Belief computational model of social capital (SC) developed within the context of virtual communities. The development of the model was based on insights drawn from more than five years of research into social capital in virtual communities. The Chapter discusses the key variables constituting social capital in virtual communities and shows how the model was updated using practical scenarios. The scenarios describe authentic cases drawn from several virtual communities. The key issues predicted by the model as well as challenges encountered in building, verifying and updating the model are discussed.

Conclusions, Book Limitations and Future Directions

2009 ◽  
pp. 242-251
Author(s):  
Ben Kei Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Bayesian Belief Network ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Share Information

Social capital in virtual communities offers a useful conceptual and practical tool to help us gain insights into the way people interact with each other, share information and knowledge among themselves and work together. This book has synthesized and brought together a massive volume of current and past work on social capital in geographical or place-based communities. The results of the analysis helped to extend the theory of social capital to virtual communities. It has also provided basis for e researchers, policymakers and systems designers to explore social issues that are likely to have an impact on information and knowledge sharing. The book provides useful information for people concerned with how social capital may be used to answer key questions about its fundamental components, how to study and model it within the contexts of virtual learning communities and distributed communities of practice. The main thrust of this book is the ability to identify the critical components of social capital in virtual communities and the use of modelling techniques—Bayesian Belief Network to analysis of interactions of the components of social capital. The components identified in the book serve as important proxies for examination of how social capital will operate in virtual communities. It is hoped that this fresh conceptualization of social capital in virtual communities prepares scholars to engage in useful and productive discussions on how to hone the potentials of this theory. This Chapter summarises the key issues presented in the book and outlines important future directions for the discussion of social capital in virtual communities.

A Bayesian Computational Model of Social Capital in Virtual Communities

2003 ◽  
pp. 287-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Kei Daniel ◽  
Juan-Diego Zapata-Rivera ◽  
Gordon McCalla
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Virtual Communities

The Design and Implementation of Rural Communication Technology Initiatives

2004 ◽  
pp. 83-99
Author(s):  
Lyn Simpson ◽  
Leonie Daws ◽  
Leanne Wood
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Community Technology ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Technology Initiatives ◽  
Potential Interactions

Communication technology initiatives have proved to be an important influence in rural communities in recent years. Our research has demonstrated that such initiatives have far-reaching effects on a community’s formal and informal social networks and, as a result, on its social capital. Given this fact, it is critical that leaders and management committees of community technology projects are aware of the broader social context in which project activities take place, and the potential interactions that can both benefit and damage community social capital. This chapter addresses key issues that have arisen out of a number of major communication technology projects in Queensland, Australia, and draws upon our findings to propose guidelines that will assist project planners with the design and implementation of future communication technology initiatives in the context of regional and rural community development.

Trust and Social Capital

2009 ◽  
pp. 75-91
Author(s):  
Ben Kei Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Trusting Relationships ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Computational Systems

Regardless of any approach taken for examining social capital, researchers continuously converge on some key issues such as trust and yet diverge on several others about concrete and consistent indicators for measuring social capital. Many researchers believe that presence or absences of social capital can be solely linked to trusting relationships people build with each other as well as social institutions of civil engagement. It is not clearly known however, whether trust itself is a precondition for generating social capital or whether there are other intermediary variables that can influence the role of trust in creating social capital. In addition, similar to social capital, the definition of trust is problematic and it remains a nebulous concept and equally, with many dimensions. Interests in the analysis of trust are wide spread among many disciplines, notably policy analysis, economic development, reliability and security of distributed computational systems and many others. The variety of approaches currently employed to investigate trust and different interpretations of its role in fostering social capital has resulted into a diverse array of knowledge about the concept and its relationship to social capital. This Chapter provides a broader overview of work on trust. It discusses how researchers have used trust as a proxy for measuring social capital.

Schools as Driver of Social Innovation and Territorial Development

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Giovannella
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Adequate Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Issues

This contribution is intended to describe the rationale of a project, in progress, that aims at recovering the centrality of the school through a systemic approach adopting the Design Based Learning as an operative framework of reference capable to foster: (a) the acquisition of an adequate level of LIFE skills by all actors of the learning process (students, teachers, etc.); (b) meaningful collaboration and participation, aimed at achieving social and territorial development; (c) an increase of the social capital. Key issues related to the implementation of the framework and to the training of the teachers expected to manage the process are discussed and recommendation given.

Virtual Communities and Social Capital Theory

2011 ◽  
pp. 493-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Ridings
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Civic Group

Imagine a neighborhood where young children can play freely in the streets and various backyards without direct parental oversight, the implication being that other adults in the vicinity will watch out for the children. If a parent is late getting home before the school bus, the children know which neighbors’ house to go to and will be well cared for until the parent arrives home. The residents are very willing to help each other, perhaps by moving a sofa down to a basement or lending a ladder for a project. In such a neighborhood, the first place one turns to for recommendations for plumbers, dry cleaners, and preschools, or perhaps to borrow a tool, is each other. Perhaps one person has secured a job for a neighbor’s daughter, and another family has “paved the way” for their neighbor’s entry into a country club. If a person has a need for emotional support to deal with a personal crisis, she turns to a neighbor. Such a neighborhood can be said to have social capital—that resource that comes from relations between people that makes lives more productive and easier. Social capital is not only created from groups of people living in very close proximity, such as in a neighborhood. It might be created between people belonging to the same church or civic group, or perhaps between people who met at a hospital support group for a particular affliction, or people who are alumni of a particular university. These groups of people can be said to constitute communities, or gatherings of people who have common interests or ties. In the past, these communities tended also to be focused in a local geographic area. This article will examine social capital in the context on online communities. Online communities, like physically based communities such as church groups or neighborhoods, can also be said to produce social capital for their members. These virtual communities can create and foster social capital—and indeed, it may be social capital that draws and retains their members. The background of social capital theory will be examined and then applied in the virtual community context.

Effects of social capital on online knowledge sharing: positive and negative perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiu-Ping Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relationship Continuity ◽  
Complementary Resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual model of how both the benefits and risks of social capital influence online knowledge sharing among virtual community members towards enhancing members’ relationship continuity and virtual community reputations. In addition, this study addresses the effects of complementary resources on knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach – The structural equation modelling approach was applied to estimate the conceptual model by using survey data from virtual community members. A total of 626 valid questionnaires were collected. Findings – The empirical results showed that most of the research hypotheses were supported. The benefits of social capital and complementary resources have a positive effect on knowledge sharing, thereby strengthening relationship continuity and community reputation. Furthermore, the risk of social capital has a negative effect on knowledge sharing, as expected. Originality/value – A review of the literature reveals a lack of studies focusing on both the positive and negative influences of social capital on online knowledge sharing. This study therefore contributes to a comprehensive perspective for understanding online knowledge sharing in virtual communities.

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