Civic engagement and lifelong learning: Survey findings on social capital and attitudes towards learning

Abstract

The concept of social capital commands considerable attention right across the social sciences and among the policy community. In recent years, it has also generated a lively debate among the research community in lifelong learning. There is some emerging evidence that social capital is associated with learning in adult life, but the nature of that relationship remains very unclear. The paper reports on findings from a recent social attitudes survey in Northern Ireland.