Section Three: Measurement and Evaluation of Social Capital

Overview of Social Capital Research Methods

As social capital is a complex and multi-dimensional concept, research or project teams may encounter difficulties in measuring and evaluating it. Project teams need to integrate different research methods to understand its multi-dimensional nature and adopt appropriate research tools. Quantitative methods provide data and statistical analysis, while qualitative methods offer in-depth contextual understanding, and mixed methods can combine the strengths of both approaches.

Quantitative Methods

Quantitative methods mainly measure social capital through surveys, analysis of existing datasets, or social network analysis. This method typically measures the quantifiable aspects of social capital, establishing scales based on different dimensions of social capital, such as community participation, community trust and safety, and neighbourhood connections (Onyx & Bullen, 2000).

Qualitative Methods

Qualitative methods focus on understanding the content and quality of social capital, such as patterns of certain groups' contact and use of social capital (Muruthi et al., 2021), the process of neighbourhood environmental factors enhancing social capital (Luo, 2016), and personal life experiences related to social capital and health (Boneham & Sixsmith, 2006). These more complex aspects of social capital concepts usually require in-depth exploration through qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus group discussions, participants’ observation, and case studies (Portes, 1998).

Mixed Methods

Mixed methods combine the advantages of both quantitative and qualitative research, providing a multi-level understanding framework. Using mixed methods allows understanding of social capital from different perspectives and levels and checking for consistency and differences between quantitative results and qualitative findings (Creswell & Clark, 2007).

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