Social capital from sport event participation: scale development and validation

Abstract

Participatory sport events can generate substantial social benefits for the participants. A key benefit derived from participatory sport events is the development of social capital. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument that measures social capital among active sport event participants. Using three different samples of running event participants, the proposed Sport Event Participation Social Capital Scale (SEPSCS) was tested, purified, and validated. The final scale consisted of three dimensions: trust (three items), reciprocity (three items), and network (three items). Results from factor, correlation and regression analyses supported the convergent and nomological validity of SEPSCS. Overall, SEPSCS provided researchers a psychometrically sound tool to better understand the social impacts of participatory sport events.