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Social Capital: A Workshop on Concepts and Methods, Tbilisi, 3 - 5 November 2011

Description


This workshop analyzed the conceptual and methodological properties of social capital. Despite its widespread usage in the social sciences, social capital has seldom been investigated with adequate conceptual awareness or methodological appreciation. Frequently, its dimensions and indicators are uncritically disentangled, raising questions about methodological rigour and consistency. By tracing the philosophical foundations of social capital, and interfacing this analysis with an awareness of competing research techniques, this workshop equiped participants with an in-depth, contextually-sensitive understanding of how to employ the concept of social capital in a wide diversity of research contexts.

The workshop was designed as an interactive forum in which the participants of the ASCN projects were able reflect on how social capital intersects with their research and how they may analyse it both qualitatively and quantitatively.

The workshop consisted of:
  •  (interactive) lectures aimed to convey information and to engage in discussions with  all participants about the various aspects of social capital;
  •  Various practical exercises and discussions;
The workshop was designed for researchers who have some experience with qualitative and quantitative analysis, and who would like to deepen their knowledge on social capital However, PhD students or other junior researchers are also welcome, especially if they are interested in pursuing an academic career. For the senior researchers and team leaders, the workshop was an opportunity to enhance their methodological skills by taking inspiration from the rich empirical literature on social capital. For the junior researchers, the workshop was an opportunity to gain insights into a concept that might become relevant to them at later stages of their PhD research.

Venue

 
Tbilisi, Ilia State University

Trainers


The workshop was conducted by Dr Simone Baglioni - a lecturer in Politics at Glasgow Caledonian University (UK) and Research director of the Italian case in the European research project YOUNEX (7th Framework program) affiliated to Bocconi University, in Milan (Italy) and Dr Ross Campbell - a lecturer in Political Science and Research Methods at Glasgow Caledonian University. His research interests and recent publications focus on the nature, structure, and function of attitudes towards democracy, the strength and depth of socialist sympathy in Germany, political participation, and social capital.

fileicon Programme (pdf, 48.2 KB)