Social Capital and University: A research on the influence of university in the construction of social capital of youth
Author: Haz-Gomez, Francisco E, francisco.haz@udc.es
Department: Sociology, Political Science & Management
University: University of Coruna, Spain
Supervisor: Prof. PhD. Jose A. Lopez-Rey & Prof. PhD. Celia Muñoz-Goy
Year of completion: 2016
Language of dissertation: Spanish
Keywords:
Social Capital
, Networks
, Youth
, University
Areas of Research:
Community Research
, Logic and Methodology
, Youth
Abstract
This Doctoral Thesis studies the Social Capital of young people (University students and non-university youth) and to what extent the membership in a Community institution determines its increase. Taking the university as a reference framework. In this way, we will know how to quantify the impact of this institution on the Social Capital increase of youth.
For this purpose the main objective of this research is to develop a model that combines methodological fundamentals of the main theoretical approaches to the research of Social Capital (Culturalist perspective, Structural perspective, and proposal of Network Approach).
The main elements of Social Capital allow us to develop a model based on a quantitative methodology. Also, by using different statistical techniques which will be able to define, to measure and to compare the Individual young Social Capital according to its nature (The Access Social Capital and The Mobilized Social Capital) and its origin (inherited capital and own capital).
Besides, knowing how other factors such as the Cultural Capital or membership in a particular social class which influence in the achievement of individual social capital.
This research is based on a comparative analysis (internal and external) among two sorts of young people (young university people and non-university ones).
This thesis studies the influence of a Community Institution on social capital of young people. In order to achieve this objective, University has been taken as a contextual framework due to its nature. This institution provides cultural capital and the opportunity to participate in different kinds of activities (formal and informal). Also, University lets connections between different types of youth (members of different social classes) in a same context. Finally, through attending classes in a continuous way for at least four years students have the ability to establish bonds, to acquire institutional norms or to increase inter-group trust.
The purpose of this research is creating a methodological model which joins the main elements of study of different theoretical lines on Social Capital studies (Community perspective, Structural perspective and Network Approach).
The developing of this social capital pattern and the use of a quantitative methodology let us define measure and compare the individual social capital of young people (among university students and non-university ones). Besides, with this procedure we know the influence of other factors such as the membership in a particular social class or membership to a community institution. Also, this methodological model studies how social participation differently affects the levels of social capital (inherited and acquired).
To develop this methodological model, it is implemented a case study which focuses on Degree students of University of A Coruña (Galicia-Spain). The methodological strategy for this case study is based on a double checked analysis (intra-institutional and extra-institutional).
