An Examination of Social Capital among U.S. Adults: Patterns that Facilitate Social Well-being as Measured by PIAAC

Christy Michele Rhodes, Leslie Cordie, Michael Wooten

Abstract


Communities thrive when individuals work together to share knowledge and resources.  This phenomenon, social capital, is widely understood as the access and proficiency individuals have to knowledge and networks that facilitate acquisition of economic resources and social well-being (Putnam, 2000).  This paper presents findings from data collected in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) related to three elements of social capital.  Community involvement, political efficacy, and social trust were explored as they relate to age, educational attainment, and time of residence in the United States.  Key results include low levels of all social capital variables and differences by age and educational attainment. Findings add to the understanding of the ways in which sub-groups of U.S. communities engage with their social networks.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.18.2.1


Keywords


social capital; PIAAC; civic engagement; social trust

Full Text:

PDF

References


Balatti, J., Black, S., Falk, I.& National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Leabrook (Australia). (2006). Reframing adult literacy and course outcomes: A social capital perspective. An adult literacy national project report. National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd.

Balatti, J., & Falk, I. (2002). Socioeconomic contributions of adult learning to community: A social capital perspective. Adult Education Quarterly, 52(4), 281-298. doi: 10.1177/074171302400448618

Bynner, J. & Hammond, C. (2004). The benefits of adult learning: Quantitative insights. In T. Schuller et al, (Eds)., The benefits of learning: The impact on health, family life and social capital, (pp. 161-78). New York, NY: RoutledgeFalmer. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477878506069106

Coleman, J.S. (1998). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94 (Supplement), S95-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-7506-7222-1.50005-2

Flanagan, C., & Levine, P. (2010). Civic engagement and the transition to adulthood. The Future of Children, 20(1), 159-179. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.0.0043

Jennings, M. K., & Stoker, L. (2004). Social trust and civic engagement across time and generations. Acta Politica, 39(4), 342-379. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500077

OECD. (2013). What the survey of adult skills (PIAAC) measures. (pp.17-35). Paris: OECD Publishing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264204027-4-en

Onyx, J., & Bullen, P. (2000). Measuring social capital in five communities. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 36(1), 23-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886300361002

Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology. Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1-24. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/223472

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Putnam, R. D. (1993). What makes democracy work? National Civic Review, 82, 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1002/ncr.4100820204

Salomon, M., & Centre for Literacy of Quebec (Canada). (2010). Social capital outcomes of adult learning and literacy initiatives. how do we measure them? literature review. ().Centre for Literacy of Quebec.

Westell, T. (2005). Measuring non-academic outcomes in adult literacy programs: A literature review. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved from http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/measuring/measuring.pdf.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493