Investigating Community and Social Capital introduces students to quantitative social science research with a case study on social capital. Some of the concepts illustrated include replication, unit of analysis, level of measurement, analysis over time versus cross-sectional analysis, crosstabulation, creating an index, and correlation. I hope that instructors find this to be an uncomplicated and useful enhancement to courses in disciplines such as political science, public administration and policy, and sociology. My larger goal is to introduce students to the merits and rewards of quantitative social science research and to demonstrate the power of this approach.
The specific pedagogic goals of this site are:
The exercises on this Web site will engage students in reading the Robert D. Putnam's book Bowling Alone, along with some additional reading about the book and social capital. Here is a complete reference list.
I would like to gratefully acknowledge ICPSR and its director, Myron Gutmann, staff members too numerous to mention, and the Official Representative Summer Sabbatical Program for generously supporting this project. I would especially like to thank Mary Vardigan and Dieter Burrell for their gracious assistance, from the conception to the completion of this project. Peggy Overcashier wrote an impressive program that integrated several of the datasets with the online analysis software. Matthew Richardson applied his multifaceted talent to designing the Web site. Ruth Shamraj meticulously edited the site. And, Linda Detterman skillfully spearheaded the promotion of this Web site. In addition, I am deeply indebted to Rachael Barlow, the other 2006 summer sabbatical OR, whose ideas and support contributed greatly to this project. Finally, this project was also made possible by the contributions and support over the years of my inspiring teaching assistants--Kim McPherson, Jim Bergman, Rob Kardell, Chris Trowbridge, and Robynn Kuhlmann.
--Lori M. Weber
Lori M. Weber is an associate professor of political science at California State University, Chico, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate political methods and public opinion courses. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2001. She has authored and coauthored publications on political participation, democratic deliberation, and electronic democracy. She is an independent film, music, food, cycling, and travel aficionado, and, of course, a social capitalist.
About the Site - Introduction - Social Capital - Datasets - Exercises