Upload
dina-tucker
View
216
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Social capital and community:Findings and conclusions of
neighbourhood-based studies
Limerick Citizen Advocacy Project
1
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Structure
1. Social capital definitions & focus of the research
2. Contextual issues
3. Measurement of social capital
4. Selected findings – attitudes & networks
5. Conclusions
6. Implications
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Research on social capital
• Study (2003 & 2004 fieldwork) ….1.Test / develop means of measurement
2.Types and variations in social capital
• Civic perspective … small areas / neighbourhoods“The stocks of social trust, norms and networks
which people can draw on to solve common problems” (Putnam, 1995)
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Policy context & interest• Social capital in public policy …
Direct (NGOs & volunteering) .. – Indirect (conditions)
• Socio-economic / structural factors …• Planning …. neighbourhoods …• Institutional arrangements (decentralised structures …)
• Institutional ….. community development …. partnerships
• Local governance … “Cohesion” structures … county level
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
GINI Coefficient by GNP per capita EU15=100, 1998
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Country
GNP
per
cap
ita
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
GIN
I coe
ffici
ent
GNP per capita -EU15=100GINI coeff icient
Source: European Foundation for Improvementof Living & Working Conditions, 2003
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Housing tenure in Ireland
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1961 1971 1981 1991 2002
years
%
owner-occupied
social housing
private renting
Source: CSO, Census of population
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Social capital
• Values – Trust & reciprocity
• Networks– “strong” and “weak”
ties
• Outcomes / functions – social support– civic
• Bonding – close, homogeneous– “getting by”
• Bridging– horizontal,
heterogeneous– “getting ahead”
• Linking– vertical ties … – “change …”
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Dimensions
Elements
Bonding
Strong, homogeneous
Bridging
Weak, horizontal,
heterogeneous
Linking
Weak, vertical, heterogeneous
Values Social trust
Reciprocity
Cohesion (2)
Inclusion
Trust community leaders
Trust in community organisations
Trust in institutions (7)
Community efficacy
Local governance (3)
Networks Know neighbours
Network density
Interaction
See enough of family & friends?
In vol orgs-passive
In vol orgs-active
Religious services
(Reasons for non-involvement)
Aware of SC linking organisations
Involved in SC linking organisations
Intermediate outcomes
Doing & accepting favours
Social support
Civic interest (news media)
Civic action (voting, action on n’hood problems)
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Study neighbourhoods 2002 (CSO)Area Classification Social class Education CD & policy
Tipperary Town Disadvantaged – disimprovement
Overall mixed 31% low qualification; 10% 3rd level
Long history, organic
Moyross Very disadvantaged – improvement
Medium mobility
Lower socio-economic classes
44% low qualification, 4% 3rd level
Policy support 1990’s
King’s Island Extremely disadvantaged – much worse
Low mobility
Lower socio-economic classes
51% low qualification; 6% 3rd level
Policy support 1990’s
Thurles (part) Below average – disimprovement
Overall mixed 24% low qualification; 17% 3rd level
Limited & very recent support
Castletroy / Monaleen Affluent – disimprovement
High mobility
Higher socio-economic classes
6% low qualification; 52% 3rd level
No support
Inner City / Dock Above average – improvement
Mixed - immigrants 11% low qualification, 39% 3rd level
No support
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Sense of belonging to community
0102030405060708090
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very Disadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
% o
f pop
ulat
ion
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Sense of pride in units of territory
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King'sIsland
(ExtremelyDisadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
% o
f pop
ulat
ion
Neighbourhood
City / town
Irish
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Know and trust neighbours
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King'sIsland
(ExtremelyDisadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
Sc
ore
-2
(le
as
t) t
o +
2 (
mo
st)
Know
Trust
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Attitudes towards community activists and organisations
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very Disadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
Sc
ore
s -
2 (
mo
st
ne
ga
tiv
e)
to +
2 (
mo
st
po
sit
ive
)
community activists"out for themselves"
community orgs "dotheir best"
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Institutional trust (7 institutions)
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross (VeryDisadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks (Above
Av)Neighbourhoods
Scor
e (-2
low
est)
to +
2 (h
ighe
st)
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Local governance: Attitudes towards local government
-1.2
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Neighbourhood
Sco
re: R
ange
-2 (m
ost n
egat
ive)
to +
2
(mos
t pos
itive
)
doesn’t care
doesn't keep informed
involves in decision-making
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Involvement in voluntary or community organisations in the last 3 years
05
101520253035404550
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King'sIsland
(ExtremelyDisadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
% o
f pop
ulat
ion
Involvement invol orgs
Activeinvolvement
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Knowledge of and involvement in linking social capital organisations
0102030405060708090
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
% o
f p
op
ula
tio
n
Yes, know groups
Yes, in groups
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Factors preventing involvement in voluntary organisations
010203040506070
Tipp Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City &Docks
(Above Av)
Neighbourhood
% o
f pop
ulat
ion Time
Caring
Not interested
Don't like people
No point
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Levels of social capital - Bonding, Bridging & Linking
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Tipp. Town(Disadv)
Moyross(Very
Disadv)
King's Island(Extremely
Disadv)
Thurles(Average)
Castletroy /Monaleen(Affluent)
Inner City /Dock (Above
Av)
Neighbourhood
Sco
re R
an
ge -
2 (
low
est)
to
+2 (
hig
hest)
Bonding
Bridging
Linking
SC
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Dependent variables
Predictors
1. Social Capital
2. Bonding 3. Bridging 4. Linking
Context - Place
Neighbourhood
+Tipperary T. +King’s Isl -Moyross
+Tipperary T.
-King’s Isl.
+Tipp. T.
Composition
Individuals & households
+Age
+Education-Single parent / alone
-Renting
+Residence
+Age
-Single parent/alone
+Age
+Education
-Single parent / alone
-Renting
+Age
+Education
-Single parent/alone
Contextual conditions
Facilities, services, quality, problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
-Problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
-Problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
+Services
+Safety
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Dependent variables
Predictors
Values Networks Intermediate Outcomes (social & civic)
Context - Place
Neighbourhood
-Moyross* -City -City
Composition
Individuals & households
+Age
-Renting
+Education
-Single parent/alone
+Age
-Renting
+Education
-Single parent / alone
+Age
+Renting
+Education
-Single parent / alone
Contextual conditions
Facilities, services, quality, problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
+Services
-Problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Quality
+Identity
+Services
+Problems
+Comm.Inf.
+Identity
+Services
+Problems**
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Conclusions• Bridging & linking SC …
particularly weak• Policy-induced structures
may help but …– Well-connected get better
connected ..– Grass-roots … remain
unconnected .. Not embedded ..
• Attitudes of trust .. – Some very distant …
disadvantaged areas
• More affluent areas .. Lack structures
• More of the same won’t work…
• Focus on conditions– Facilities / services in
communities …– Quality .. Residents want to
stay…– Political opportunity
structure (decentralised)
• Where to target efforts• Where there is
potential… • Where it is likely to be
more difficult…
University of LimerickOllscoil Luimnigh
Implications• Evidence of ‘institutional
void’ in local governance– Dependency on small elite
group … overused and ..
• ‘Tinkering’ v. addressing issue .. weak democratic local structures…
• Delivering into local communities (LA / local agency competence)…– Planning function…– Housing …
• Long term strategy …
• How to achieve a wider range of participation?– Changing structures …
embed in wider social networks …
– What incentives for participation ..
• What changes for local communities and when?
• What issues?
– Structures + culture of participation
– Information & expertise