ASSESSING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FIELD: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS by HYOUNG YONG KIM (Under the Direction of Kevin L. DeWeaver) ABSTRACT A multi-level and dimensional approach to social capital is applied for this study. This approach is particularly suitable for addressing the conceptual issues of social capital because it is a differentiated phenomenon that varies in its levels and components. The present study is thus the first empirical test of the three competing models of social capital that can be applied to the field of community development. In a multi-level framework, 1) the effect of individual- level social capital (bonding, bridging, and linking) on community development action is tested (network dynamic model), 2) it is examined whether neighborhood-level social cohesion has an independent effect on residents’ community development action (collective efficacy model), and 3) cross-level interaction tests the hypothesis that neighborhood-level social cohesion accounts for the way in which individual-level social capital are related to community development action (synergy model). In addition, the mediation and moderation models specify the associations. The empirical model of the study is thus designed to increase the explanatory power of each of social capital construct, using hierarchical linear and nonlinear models. The results generally support the network dynamic and collective efficacy hypotheses, concluding that both individual-level social capital and neighborhood-level social cohesion are significant predictors of the outcome, but there are substantial differences in the magnitude of the effect. Specifically, bridging and linking types of social capital produce stronger effects on residents’ community development action than any other variables, and the effect of neighborhood-level social cohesion is small and partially mediated by individual-level bonding capital. Also, neighborhood-level social cohesion does not explain the extent to which individual-level social capital exerts influence on its outcome. The research findings imply several lessons for social work. The key features of social capital are social relationships accruing to individuals rather than communities. While bonding networks have beneficial effects on the organization of the poor, strategies that extend the boundary of networks and cultivate institutional involvement are more critical to creating opportunities of resource mobilization. Given the findings of this study, the author suggests some ways of promoting community development through investment in social capital. In particular, social workers’ awareness of bridging and linking capital is very important to the success of their intervention. Social workers thus need to take a leadership role in efforts to expand diverse social connections. INDEX WORDS: Social capital, Social cohesion, Bonding capital, Bridging capital, Linking capital, Community development action, Network dynamic, Collective efficacy, Synergy. ASSESSING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FIELD: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS by HYOUNG YONG KIM B.A., Yonsei University, 1995 M.A., Yonsei University, 2000 M.A., University of Georgia, 2005 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2006 © 2006 HYOUNG YONG KIM All Rights Reserved ASSESSING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FIELD: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS by HYOUNG YONG KIM Major Professor: Kevin L. DeWeaver Committee: Thomas P. Holland Kristina Jaskyte Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia Dec 2006 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to deliver the best appreciation to Dr. Kevin DeWeaver, my committee chair and academic mentor, for having believed in my potential as a researcher. His expert knowledge and guidance were the foundation for my doctoral research and his encouragement and patience were the impetus for completing this dissertation. I know that my gratitude to him is beyond my words of appreciation, but hope that his efforts will be rewarded as we continue to develop our relationship of trust. Likewise, I wish to thank Dr. Thomas Holland, for his academic advice and support for this very conceptual research, and Dr. Kristina Jaskyte, especially for her incredible contribution to the refinement of the study variables. Insightful comments and assistance offered by the dissertation committee shall be remembered for many years. My gratitude goes as well to the School of Social Work and the Graduate School for providing me with financial support to dedicate my doctoral study throughout the whole years in UGA. My sincere thanks go to my Korean friends for their wonderful support and love. I would like to express my special thanks to Dongsoo Kim and his family. They shared with my family every step of studying and living in Athens, and willingly helped us in times of challenge. Without them, things would be a lot different. I wish to express my gratitude to Sunghae Kim and Sangwoo Han for their academic friendship. Even though we’d been together in a very few years, we practiced a number of ideas together that were the best memory of my learning. I thank my fellow school members who constantly gave me encouragement. To Sung Hyun Yoon, Minhong Lee, Sunyung Yoo, and Byungduck Kang, I will not forget what you have shared with me. I also thank Sangyeon Lee for prayers and opportunities for spiritual growth. To v Gyeongsoo Kang, Jongsuk Choi, Hyunju Lee, and Kunkyu Kim. Obviously, I would be very lonely without our friendship. To my father and mother, thank you for all the support and understanding during the years in the U.S. From the very depths of my heart, I wish you know my gratitude to you for giving me hope, wisdom, strength, and passion. All achievement must be credited to them. To my brother and sister and their families, thank you for believing me even when I was too distracted to nurture our relationships. Finally, but more important, my gratitude to my wife is boundless. I feel so blessed to have HyeRyeong and cannot thank her enough for all that she has done for me. To my daughter, Lynnette, you made me appreciate my life so much more. I love you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................................... iiv LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................x LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................xii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 Why Social Capital Matters .......................................................................................4 General Controversies in Research on Social Capital .................................................7 A Multilevel and Dimensional Approach to Social Capital.......................................12 Research Questions..................................................................................................14 Significance of the Study .........................................................................................16 Organization of the Study ........................................................................................18 2. LITERATURE REVIEW: BACKGROUND OF SOCIAL CAPITAL RESEARCH ...20 Social Capital Theory ..............................................................................................20 Social Capital as Individual Advantage – James Coleman ...................................21 Social Capital as Power Relation – Pierre Bourdieu ............................................23 Social Capital as a Collective Asset – Robert Putnam..........................................27 Comparisons of Three Perspectives.....................................................................30 Conceptualization of Social Capital .........................................................................33 Definition of Social Capital.................................................................................34 vii Forms of Social Capital.......................................................................................35 Social Cohesion ..................................................................................................37 Measurement Issues............................................................................................38 Empirical Research on Social Capital and Community Development.......................43 Economic Development ......................................................................................43 Political Development.........................................................................................47 Cultural Development .........................................................................................49 Neighborhood Context and Social Capital...........................................................51 3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK................................................................................56 Community Development Field ...............................................................................57 The Goals of the Community Development Field................................................59 Community Development