2006/09/01 by Weiwu Zhang, Stella C. Chia
Social Sciences · #Social Capital and Networks #Social Media and Politics #Social and Cultural Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1080/10510970600666974
openalex publication_date 2006/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
More recently, many scholars have lamented the decline of social capital, civic and political participation in American society. This study attempts to clarify the concept of social capital and its major components. We differentiate two dimensions of social capital: trust and social connectedness. In addition, we investigate the differential effects of a full range of media use on civic and political participation. Analysis of data from a telephone survey in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2002 showed that people's social connectedness enhances both civic and political participation. Time spent in reading newspaper and watching public affairs on television was positively correlated with political participation whereas frequency of Internet use and entertainment TV viewing was not. The results also showed no correlation between media use and civic participation. Implications of the findings for future research on democratic citizenship were discussed.