Defining and Measuring Social Capital for Young People: A Practical Review of the Literature on Resource-Full Relationships

Description of Resource: This extensive resource for practitioners can be used to develop tools and measures of social capital as well as further their understanding about how relationships and resources can contribute to education and employment outcomes. The resource is designed to provide practical guidance for programs seeking to measure and expand social capital specifically for youth and young adults of color and from low-income backgrounds. Included in this resource are an overview of key concepts, recommended practices for the measurement of social capital along with a list of existing measures, and recommended elements to include in program design and delivery to foster outcomes associated with social capital.

Goals: To provide a framework for practitioners to enhance their capacity to foster and measure social capital among youth and young adults of color and from low-income backgrounds.

Target Population/Eligibility or Target Sites: Mentoring programs of all types. This resource may be especially relevant for evaluators, staff who oversee the development of program curriculum, or programs interested in measuring outcomes related to social capital.

Corresponding Elements of Effective Practice:  

• Recruitment
• Training
• Supporting Mentoring Relationships (formerly “Monitoring and Support”)
• Program Planning and Management 

Key Personnel: N/A

Additional Information: Other related resources that may be of interest include The 4 S’s interview (for mentors to get to know their mentees better), Building relationships: A guide for new mentors (to help mentors develop positive relationships with their mentees), Child Opportunity Index (to identify community strengths and capital), and Discovering the possibilities: “C”ing your future (to help identify what connections to make/bring in that can support youth).

Publisher/Source: Search Institute

Author: Peter C. Scales, Ph.D., Ashley Boat, Ph.D., and Kent Pekel, Ed.D.

Date of Publication: April 2020

Resource Type: Program Policies, Procedures, and Management Resources

Evaluation Methodology: Resource has not been evaluated for effectiveness

Evaluation Outcomes: Resource has not been evaluated for effectiveness

External Validity: Resource has not been evaluated for effectiveness

This free report is available for download at: https://www.search-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SOCAP-Lit-Review.pdf.

Evidence Base: None.

Additional References: None.