Table 3

Measurement of social capital

Measurement indexMain contentIndicators
Network densityMeasuring the online communication patterns of respondents with their social relations and social network within their residing communityNumber of people available online for communication at any time
Times of talk in WeChat/QQ groups last week
Number of friends available online at any time
Frequency of talks in WeChat/QQ groups
Topic of talks initiated in WeChat/QQ groups by the respondent
Number of members in WeChat/QQ groups constituted of local residents
Psychology of trust within the communityMeasuring the degree of mutual trust of respondents and residents of the same communityHave asked for help from other residents through WeChat/QQ
Other residents have asked for help through WeChat/QQ
Extent of trust in online friends
Have sought comments and/or opinions from other residents through WeChat/QQ
Other residents have sought comments and/or opinions through WeChat/QQ
Community participationMeasuring the degree of community participation by respondentsHave mobilised residents through WeChat/QQ to come together to resolve common problems of the community
Have responded to other residents’ requests to join in the resolution of common problems through WeChat/QQ
Am interested in the discussions within WeChat/QQ community groups

or Create an Account

Close subscription notice
Close access options