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Civic Engagement and Social Cohesion: Measuring Dimensions of Social Capital to Inform Policy
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People’s engagement in society, their associations and networks, and the characteristics of their communities profoundly affect their qual- ity of life. The attributes commonly discussed under the rubric “social capital”—political participation; engagement in community organiza- tions; connectedness with friends and family and neighbors; and atti- tudes toward and relationships with neighbors, government, and groups unlike one’s own—are often associated with positive outcomes in many areas of life, including health, altruism, compliance with the law, educa- tion, employment, and child welfare. It has also been observed that civic engagement, social cohesion, and other dimensions of social capital are sometimes related to negative outcomes. Under certain circumstances these actions and processes may contribute to social tension and com- munity fragmentation; in others to social cooperation and integration. Recognizing the value of understanding these relationships, the Cor- poration for National and Community Service (CNCS) requested that the Committee on National Statistics create a panel “to identify measurement approaches that can lead to improved understanding of civic engagement, social cohesion, and social capital—and their potential role in explaining the functioning of society.” The statement of task called for the panel to consider conceptual frameworks, definitions of key terms, the feasibility and specifications of relevant indicators, and the relationship between these indicators and selected social trends. It also called on the panel to weigh the relative merits of surveys, administrative records, and nongovernment and nonsurvey data sources, and to assess the appropriate role of the federal statistical system.
Kenneth Prewitt, Christopher D. Mackie, Hermann Habermann - Personal Name
978-0-309-30725-3
NONE
Social Science
English
2014
1-197
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