Best and Krueger – Online Interactions and Social Capital: Distinguishing between New and Existing Ties

Best, Samuel and Brian Krueger. “Online Interactions and Social Capital:  Distinguishing between New and Existing Ties.” Social Science Computer Review 24  (2006): 395-410. Print. This is an empirical study conducted by sociologists Samuel J. Best and Brian S. Krueger that measures the degree of online only interactions a group of people have with other people.  To do this, the authors use s probability survey of U.S. residents.  According... Read More

James and Johnson – Bowling Alone but Online Together: Social Capital in E-Communities

Scott, James and Thomas Johnson. “Bowling Alone but Online Together:  Social Capital in E-Communities.” Community Development 36 1 (2006): 9-28. Print. In this work Scott and Johnson consider how voluntary association online creates e-communities; further, the authors also consider what the evolution of electronic communities presents for community development theory.  To serve this purpose the authors ask the following questions: ... Read More

CRS862 – Week One – Habermas and Putnam

Bowling Alone:  America’s Declining Social Capital An Interview with Robert Putnam Robert Putnam Putnam’s main contention here is that in the post cold war era, civic engagement has given way to passive reliance on state and media apparatus. Historically, the US has been a model for self-federation and active, participatory democracy – this is enshrined in de Tocqueville’s work. Yet, this slide toward federation always comes at the expense... Read More