Developing a Benchmark Measure of Social Capital

Author: Steven McEachern

Published: Friday 28th Mar 2003

Chief Investigator: Dr. Steven McEachern

Social capital, the ‘features of social organization, such as networks, norms and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit’ (Putnam, 1995: 67) is regarded as a major resource for improving social outcomes in a variety of social science fields. However, measurement of social capital is subject to much conjecture, and there is no universally recognised tool for measure levels of social capital in Australian communities. The aim of this research is to adapt and pilot test a benchmark survey for measuring levels of social capital. This will be fielded in Ballarat, and based around the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey recently completed in the United States. The study will also form the basis for conducting a broader study of levels of social capital across Victorian communities.