Using Mixed Methods to Assess Social Capital in Low Income Countries: A Practical Guide

23 Pages Posted: 6 Aug 2008

See all articles by Michael Woolcock

Michael Woolcock

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Veronica Nyhan Jones

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: August 5, 2008

Abstract

We provide an overview of some practical guidelines for using both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess social capital in low income countries. Drawing on two longer and more detailed source documents, we use a six-dimension conceptual framework to show how a more complete picture of the nature and extent of social relations in poor communities can be discerned. Far from being the 'final word' on social capital assessment, these guidelines serve rather to distil lessons from research conducted thus far at the World Bank (and elsewhere), and provide a broad platform on which subsequent research can draw and, in turn, contribute. It is stressed that social capital's salience and manifestations, across all dimensions, is often highly context dependent, and that all researchers need to do the hard work of adapting these guidelines to best suit the political, cultural and historical realities of the communities in which they are engaged.

Keywords: social capital, low income, qualitative, quantitative, networks, solidarity

Suggested Citation

Woolcock, Michael and Nyhan Jones, Veronica, Using Mixed Methods to Assess Social Capital in Low Income Countries: A Practical Guide (August 5, 2008). Brooks World Poverty Institute Working Paper No. 12, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1205165 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1205165

Michael Woolcock (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Veronica Nyhan Jones

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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