Lin – 1999
De afgelopen decennia is social capital een belangrijk concept geworden in de sociale wetenschappen.
Dit artikel bespreekt de toekomst van social capital, de verschillende perspectieven en controverses, en
stelt een model voor om social capital te begrijpen. Het begint met het definiëren van capital als de
surpluswaarde die wordt geïnvesteerd en gevangen genomen door organisaties en individuen.
Vervolgens wordt social capital beschouwd als een vorm van neo-kapitalistische theorie, waarbij de
arbeiders en massa’s ook kunnen investeren en dus hun eigen kapitaal kunnen verwerven. Dit in
tegenstelling tot de klassieke kapitalistische theorie die gebaseerd is op de exploitatieve sociale relaties
tussen twee klassen.
Er wordt ook aandacht besteed aan de meting van social capital, waarbij twee benaderingen worden
besproken: het meten van ingebedde hulpbronnen in sociale netwerken en het meten van
netwerklocaties als indicatoren van social capital. Het artikel benadrukt ook de verschillende types van
rendement die social capital kan opleveren, zoals economische, politieke en sociale rendementen voor
instrumentele acties, en fysieke gezondheid, mentale gezondheid en levensvoldoening voor
expressieve acties.
Tot slot wordt de opkomst van cybernetwerken als een nieuwe vorm van social capital besproken,
waarbij de groei van internetgebruik en e-commerce wordt belicht en de impact hiervan op de
economie wordt benadrukt.
In dit artikel wordt een model voorgesteld om social capital te begrijpen, waarbij de focus ligt op de
vorming van ongelijkheid in social capital, de toegang en mobilisatie van social capital, en de
rendementen van social capital. Dit model biedt een raamwerk om de complexe relaties en processen
rondom social capital te begrijpen en te onderzoeken.
Dit artikel bespreekt de methode van het bouwen van een theorie van sociaal kapitaal. De methode
omvat het scherper definiëren van sociaal kapitaal als investering in sociale relaties door individuen,
waardoor ze toegang krijgen tot ingebedde hulpbronnen om de verwachte opbrengsten van
instrumentele of expressieve acties te verbeteren. Het artikel identificeert drie processen voor
modellering: (1) investering in sociaal kapitaal, (2) toegang tot en mobilisatie van sociaal kapitaal, en
(3) opbrengsten van sociaal kapitaal. Daarnaast worden verschillende meettechnieken en controverses
in sociaal kapitaal besproken.
Dit artikel bespreekt de opkomst van sociale netwerken in de vorm van cybernetwerken en de impact
daarvan op sociale kapitaaltheorie. Het document benadrukt dat sociale kapitaaltheorie moet worden
verankerd in sociale netwerken en ingebedde hulpbronnen om relevant te blijven. Het suggereert dat
cybernetwerken een belangrijke bron van sociaal kapitaal worden en dat dit een nieuw tijdperk van
theoretische ontwikkeling en praktische analyse biedt. Daarnaast wordt de opkomst van
cybernetwerken beschouwd als een kans en een uitdaging voor sociale netwerkscholars
Het artikel richt zich op het ontwikkelen van een theorie van sociaal kapitaal, met een focus op de
opkomst van cybernetwerken en de impact ervan op de samenleving. Het onderzoekt de vorming van
ongelijkheid in sociaal kapitaal, de effecten van cybernetwerken op de distributie van sociaal kapitaal,
en de implicaties van technologie en handel op de globalisering van sociaal kapitaal. Daarnaast
benadrukt het artikel de opkomst van cybernetwerken als een nieuw tijdperk van sociale netwerken en
sociale relaties, en de rol van technologie in het veranderen van de manier waarop mensen
communiceren, informatie verkrijgen, en hun sociale en economische kapitaal benutten.
,Vragen:
What gap is the study trying to address?
The study is attempting to address the emergence and significance of cyber-networks in the context of
social capital theory. It aims to fill the gap in understanding the impact of cyber-networks on social
capital and the potential shift in the significance and effects of social capital compared to personal
capital. The study also seeks to develop a research agenda to analyze the formation and development
of social groups and organizations within cyber-networks, as well as the impact of technology and
commerce on social relations and social capital. Additionally, it aims to investigate the
interconnections between embedded resources, individual choices and actions, and the process through
which social capital produces returns or yields. Overall, the study is focused on understanding the
implications of cyber-networks on social capital and the need to adapt social capital theory to account
for these emerging technological developments.
What is their theoretical framework?
The theoretical framework presented in the document focuses on building a theory of social capital,
with an emphasis on understanding the interconnectedness of embedded resources, individual choices
and actions, and the process through which social capital produces returns or yields. The framework
also addresses the impact of cyber-networks on social capital and the need to adapt social capital
theory to account for emerging technological developments. It draws on various theories of capital,
including the classical theory, human capital theory, cultural capital theory, and the neo-capital
theories, to position social capital as another form of neo-capitalist theory. The framework also
discusses the controversies and debates surrounding social capital, such as the decline of social capital
and the class-domination of globalization, and proposes a model that contains three blocks of variables
in causal sequences: pre-conditions and precursors of social capital, social capital elements, and
possible returns for social capital. Additionally, the framework highlights the importance of
understanding social capital as assets in networks and the need to clarify conceptualizations,
measurements, and causal mechanisms to develop a coherent theory of social capital.
What are the hypotheses?
The document outlines several hypotheses related to the theory of social capital and its
interconnections with embedded resources, individual choices and actions, and the process through
which social capital produces returns or yields. Some of the hypotheses include:
1. The better the accessible embedded resources, the better they can be mobilized in purposive
actions by an individual.
2. Network location, such as being a bridge or being closer to a bridge, may impact an
individual's ability to mobilize embedded resources.
3. The cognitive recognition of the structural advantage of using better embedded resources may
influence an individual's actions.
, 4. Cyber-networks represent a new era where social capital far outpaces personal capital in
significance and effect.
5. The decline of social capital thesis may be refuted by the presence of social capital in cyber-
networks, suggesting a revolutionary rise of social capital.
6. Cyber-networks may lead to a bottom-up globalization process, democratizing and creating
entrepreneur networks and relations.
7. Technology and commerce in cyber-networks may pose new questions regarding the access
and use of social capital, potentially further unequalizing the distribution of social capital.
These hypotheses are crucial in understanding the dynamics of social capital, its relationship with
technology, and its potential impact on global social structures. They provide a framework for further
research and analysis in the field of social capital theory.
How does the article fit with the respective theme on managing social capital?
The article ‘’Building a Theory of Social Capital’’ addresses the theme of managing social capital by
providing a comprehensive review of social capital as discussed in the literature, identifying
controversies and debates, considering critical issues, and proposing conceptual and research strategies
in building a theory. The document emphasizes the fundamental understanding that social capital is
captured from embedded resources in social networks and highlights the need for a theory that
demonstrates the interconnections between embedded resources, individual choices and actions, and
the process through which social capital produces returns or yields.
Furthermore, the article discusses the impact of cyber-networks on social capital and suggests that the
rise of cyber-networks represents a new era where social capital far outpaces personal capital in
significance and effect. It also proposes a model for explicitly operationalizing critical elements of
social capital, including investment in social capital, access to and mobilization of social capital, and
returns of social capital.
The document also delves into the theoretical debates surrounding the decline of social capital ad the
class-domination of globalization, and suggests that the emergence of cyber-networks may refute the
decline of social capital thesis, indicating a revolutionary rise of social capital. Additionally, it
proposes a research agenda to explore the impact of cyber-networks on social capital in the coming
millennium.
Overall, the article aligns with the theme of managing social capital by providing a theoretical
framework and research strategies for understanding, measuring, and leveraging social capital within
the context of evolving social networks, including cyber-networks. It also emphasizes the need to
anchor the concept of social capital in social networks and social relations, and to measure it relative
to its root, thereby contributing to the sustained development of social capital as an intellectual
enterprise.
What is the population we can generalize to?
The document discusses the emergence and impact of cyber-networks on social capital, emphasizing
the increasing engagement of individuals in cyber-networks and the creation and use of social capital
within these networks. It also addresses the formation and development of social groups and
organizations within cyber-networks, as well as the impact of technology and commerce on social
relations and social capital. The document also highlights the potential rise of social capital in the
context of cyber-networks, suggesting a revolutionary shift in the significance and effect of social
capital compared to personal capital.
Based on the content provided, the population can be generalized to would include individuals who are
actively engaged in cyber-networks and are part of the emerging global villages formed within these
networks. This encompasses a diverse range of individuals, including those who are utilizing cyber-
networks for social interactions, information gathering, and various activities. The document suggests
that the increasing availability of inexpensive computers and internet access has led to a significant
number of individuals engaging in cyber-networks, indicating a broad and diverse population that is
involved in these digital social networks. Therefore, the generalization would extend to individuals
who are part of the global cyber-networks and are actively participating in the formation and
utilization of social capital within these digital environments.
, What methods do they use?
The document discusses several methods used in the study of social capital, particularly in the context
of network mapping and measurement. Some of the methods highlighted in the document include:
1. Saturation Survey: This method involves complete mapping of a network, allowing for a
detailed analysis of each and every network location as well as embedded resources in each
node. However, it is noted that this method is limited to small networks and is most useful for
studies of social capital within an organization or a small network among organizations.
2. Name Generator Technique: This technique elicits a list of ties from an individual (ego), and
the relationships between them as well as among them are identified. This method allows for
the computation of network locations and characteristics as well as social resources embedded
in the ego-network. It is particularly useful for larger and less definable networks.
3. Position Generator Technique: This technique samples positions in a given hierarchy
representative of resources valued in the collective, such as occupational status or prestige,
authority positions, and sectors. It allows for the identification of linkages to such resource
positions and the construction of network resource indexes.
These methods are employed to construct measures of social capital and to analyze the formation and
development of social groups and organizations within cyber-networks. They provide a framework for
understanding the interconnectedness of embedded resources, individual choices and actions, and the
process through which social capital produces returns or yields. Additionally, the document
emphasizes the need for clear theoretical arguments when using specific measures and the importance
of operationalizing critical elements for modeling social capital.
How do the results support the hypotheses?
The results presented in the document support the hypotheses by providing evidence and theoretical
frameworks that demonstrate the interconnections between embedded resources, individual choices
and actions, and the process through which social capital produces returns or yields. The document
discusses the expectation that better accessible embedded resources enable individuals to mobilize
these resources in purposive actions. It also addresses the question of why some individuals mobilize
better resources than others, suggesting that network location and cognitive recognition of structural
advantages play a role in this process.
Furthermore, the document highlights the process through which social capital produces returns or
yields, demonstrating how social capital impacts an individual’s economic, political and social
resources, as well as their physical, mental and life well-being. It also discusses the impact of cyber-
networks on social capital, suggesting that the rise of cyber-networks represents a new era where
social capital far outpaces personal capital in significance and effect.
The document also provides extensive research on the effects of social capital, including its impact on
mental health, life satisfaction, economic earnings, and organizational rewards. It also addresses the
theoretical debates surrounding the decline of social capital and the emergence of cyber-networks,
suggesting a revolutionary rise of social capital.
In summary, the results presented in the document support the hypotheses by providing theoretical and
empirical evidence that demonstrates the interconnectedness of embedded resources, individual
choices and actions, and the process through which social capital produces returns or yields.
Additionally, the document provides insights into the impact of cyber-networks on social capital,
further supporting the hypotheses regarding the significance and effect of social capital in the
emerging era of cyber-networks
