The Markers for Social Capital (MSC) instrument was used in sixteen communities to collect information on social integration and civic participation among participants (n=1,203) in community discussion groups. Three categories of groups -- consumers, providers of medical, health and human services, and community leaders (both formal and informal)-- participated in separate facilitated discussions in each community. These discussions were convened to collect qualitative data about community issues, resources, challenges, and advice for addressing specific community issues. At the close of each discussion group, participants were asked to complete the MSC instrument.
Significant differences were found for the social integration scale (p=.000) and the civic participation scale (p=.029), by community and by group (p=.000 for each scale). Scheffe post-hoc analysis generated multiple subgroups for the social integration scale for both "by community" and "by group" examinations. The same tests performed on the civic participation scale yielded two subsets for the "by groups" analysis and only single subset for the "by community" analysis.
These findings suggest that differences in mean scores for the markers of social capital scales on the basis of both group affiliation (consumer, provider, leader), and by community. Implications of these differences will be presented and discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the close of the session, participants will be able to list the markers of social capital used in this project, describe differences in social capital found, and list possible implications of these differences in planning community health status improvement efforts
Keywords: Community Participation, Health Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Felix, Burdine and Associates is a consulting firm which participated in the development of these measures and the collection and analysis of the results. The Health Institute is a research organization which participated in the develo
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of Felix, Burdine and Associates