A Dimensional Approach to Measuring Social Capital: Development and Validation of a Social Capital Inventory

TLDR

Social capital is increasingly recognized for linking societal norms to community outcomes, yet its measurement remains unclear. The study introduces a reliable self‑report instrument to address this measurement gap in social capital. Grounded in existing theory, the instrument proposes an evolving framework of dimensions, determinants, and outcomes, and was empirically validated with data from Ghana and Uganda, including recommended survey items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed robust household‑level and aggregate dimensions across both countries, and regression analyses confirmed the instrument’s validity and reliability.

Abstract

While social capital is emerging as a theory rich in its potential for understanding the relationships between societal norms and values, and community outcomes, clarification of its measures remains unresolved. This article attempts to contribute to this measurement issue by presenting a reliable self-report instrument for measuring social capital in societal environments. The instrument is grounded in the theoretical and measurement literature of social capital, and proposes an evolving conceptual framework of social capital's dimensions, determinants and outcomes. The instrument was empirically validated using data collected in the African Republics of Ghana and Uganda. The article presents results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses that substantiate a number of robust dimensions of social capital, prominent at the household and aggregate levels, and across the two country data sets. Both recommended and suggested survey questions are documented for use in subsequent research relevant to measuring social capital. Regression analyses supporting the validity of the measures are included, as are reliability measures.