Logo image
Back
Validating the measurement of social capital in Bangladesh: a cognitive approach
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Validating the measurement of social capital in Bangladesh: a cognitive approach

William T Story, Fahmida Taleb, S M Monirul Ahasan and Nabeel A Ali
Qualitative health research, Vol.25(6), pp.806-819
06/2015
DOI: 10.1177/1049732315580106
PMCID: PMC4428589
PMID: 25857652
url
http://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315580106View
Open Access

Abstract

Despite the growing evidence linking social capital to improvements in health and health behaviors, reliable measures of social capital are lacking in low-income countries. To accurately measure social capital in new contexts, there is a need to validate social capital survey questions in each new cultural setting. In this article, we examine the content validity of the measurement of social capital in Bangladesh using qualitative methods. In December 2012, we conducted four focus group discussions and 32 cognitive interviews in one rural subdistrict (Durgapur) and one urban slum (Mirpur). We used the findings from the focus groups and cognitive interviews to create a new social capital survey instrument that can be used by health and development organizations in Bangladesh. Furthermore, in this article, we provide insight into social capital survey research in general, including suggestions for the measurement of group membership, social support, collective action, and social trust.
 Social Capital Humans Middle Aged Focus Groups Social Support Male Cognition Trust Bangladesh Health Surveys Social Identification Rural Population Adult Female Surveys and Questionnaires Developing Countries Interview, Psychological Poverty Areas Qualitative Research

Details

Metrics

27 Record Views
16 Times Cited - Web of Science
Logo image