Social infrastructure as a proxy for social capital: A spatial exploration into model specification and measurement impacts in Los Angeles, California

Jake R. Nelson, Elisa J. Bienenstock, Anthony Palladino, Eduardo Barrera, Tony H. Grubesic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Measurement of community social capital most often relies on the self-reports of individuals aggregated to the community level. This reliance on validated survey-based methods for operationalizing social capital data collection is not always feasible. As a consequence, recent studies exploring data obtainable from open sources have utilized features of the built environment as a proxy. Although gaining in popularity, this approach is controversial. We suggest that the dissension is due to issues with variation in measurement approaches and model specification. Using Los Angeles, California, as a case study, we aim to advance the use of “social infrastructure” as a way of estimating social capital in two ways. First, we refine a geospatial clustering technique to illustrate changes in spatial pattern of social infrastructure under alternative conceptualizations. Second, we explore the sensitivity of social infrastructure models to the type of infrastructure used. This analysis illuminates a key source of discrepancies in the existing literature and recommends an approach for more precise model specification and measurement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalJournal of Urban Affairs
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2022

Keywords

  • Social infrastructure
  • built environment
  • community social capital

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Urban Studies

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