Blogging is a recent phenomenon with research currently focusing on how it facilitates both personal and organisational knowledge exchange (Aimeur, Brassard & Paquet 2005; Hsu & Lin 2008). Social capital is shown to be a crucial factor facilitating knowledge transfer (Nahapiet and Ghoshal 1998). Blogging is a new social communication technology enabling individuals to collaborate and share knowledge. This research investigates how three dimensions of social capital affect individual knowledge sharing in weblog communities. In particular, it explores how individuals exploit weblogs as a tool for conversational knowledge management in educational institutions. Following Wasko & Faraj's (2005) study, the conceptual model is developed by setting eight independent variables from social capital dimensions and a dependent variable is set from individual behaviour in online knowledge sharing. Eight hypotheses are developed to test the relationship between these variables. A quantitative approach was applied for data collection and analysis. For data collection, an online survey was published in several Australian university weblog communities. An additional paper-based survey was distributed to the respondents in order to gain adequate sample size. For data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to eliminate measurement items that shared a significant residual value with other measurement items. Further, the models obtained from confirmatory factor analysis were used to test the hypotheses by multiple regression analysis. Results from multiple regression analysis on online knowledge sharing suggest that trust, personal reputation and enjoy helping are positively associated with individual online knowledge sharing. The stepwise estimation procedure was further adapted in the regression model. The results show that four independent variables became significant to the study. These four significant variables were individual expertise, trust, personal reputation and enjoy helping. Lastly, several limitations in this study such as the sample of university online setting and respondents' activities on weblogs are discussed. These limitations lead to the direction of future research provided in conclusion of this study.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 CUNHA JOGB 2013.pdf: 4469310 bytes, checksum: 898165645da811556fe9c43e58f17388 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-30 / Inserido na linha de pesquisa “Família e Sociedade”, esta tese tem por objetivo apresentar o Capital Social e familiar como instrumentos relevantes na geração de políticas sociais efetivas para o combate à pobreza, bem como para o empoderamento de grupos comunitários pobres na busca da superação das suas dificuldades, atuando os seus membros de forma solidária e cooperativa em prol do bem comum. Para tanto, tomou-se como fundamento o estudo do Capital Social, da pobreza e da família, três categorias que ocupam notáveis dimensões nos estudos das Ciências Sociais em particular e em quase todas as demais áreas do conhecimento. O Capital Social, que assume centralidade neste trabalho de tese, revestiu-se do significado que possui hoje somente a partir dos anos 1980 e foi examinado amplamente quanto à sua própria existência, seus conceitos, seu paradigma em construção na direção da maturidade, seu modelo analítico e suas aplicações no mundo real, sua aproximação com a economia e a psicologia, com a contribuição de um grande número de autores, nacionais e internacionais, apontando para o combate à pobreza e fazendo jus à sua condição de instrumento que corporifica o objeto da pesquisa. Já a abordagem da pobreza foi concebida em torno de dois eixos: o primeiro trata a pobreza como um problema para o conhecimento, envolvendo as diversas concepções em torno do tema e trazendo mensurações que dão uma ideia aproximada da sua amplitude e gravidade, e apontam na direção das medidas concretas e de programas orientados para o seu enfrentamento efetivo; o segundo eixo consiste em trabalhar a pobreza como um problema para a ação, compreendendo a proteção social e as políticas públicas que erigiram a sua redução quantitativa como um importante elemento da atuação do Estado e de outras organizações nesse campo específico. Foram examinados textos de autores que estudaram a temática no âmbito das variadas áreas do conhecimento que representam, levantando-se dados e informações a respeito de programas e projetos comunitários bem sucedidos, virtuosos, de superação da pobreza, mediante o uso do Capital Social, tanto no Brasil quanto em outros países, sintetizando-se esse processo de enfrentamento do problema como uma questão inserida na luta pelos direitos humanos e pela sustentabilidade econômica-social-ambiental no planeta. A família, que no período pós-guerra chegou a ser considerada uma instituição ultrapassada, por falta de funcionalidade, nos tempos modernos retomou o seu papel como sujeito social indispensável para acolher e cuidar de crianças e idosos, como referência para seus membros e parceira imprescindível para a implantação de políticas públicas/sociais. Ressalte-se a centralidade da família para o planejamento e a execução de projetos de vida, ponto inicial para que se possa vislumbrar um combate efetivo à pobreza. O projeto de vida tem como objetivos imediatos a melhoria dos níveis de educação, saúde, moradia e emprego e situa-se em direta oposição às estratégias de sobrevivência, que se preocupam unicamente com as necessidades imediatas. A família se reveste de papel fundamental na composição deste trabalho de tese, em especial quanto à abordagem do potencial construtivo do que tem sido denominado Capital Social Familiar, uma noção ainda embrionária com perspectivas promissoras no tocante ao combate à pobreza, através dos bens relacionais produzidos pelas relações pessoais, próprias e únicas, estabelecidas pelos membros da família no seu âmbito e no contexto comunitário em que se encontra estabelecida / Inserted in the research line "Family and Society", this thesis aims to present the social and family capital as important tools in the generation of effective social policies to combat poverty and to empower poor community groups in the effort to overcome its difficulties, with its members acting in solidarity and cooperative towards the common good. To do so, we took as basis the study of capital, poverty and family, representing three categories that occupy remarkable dimensions in the study of social sciences in particular, and in almost all other areas of knowledge. The capital, which is a central thesis of this paper, lined up the importance it has today only since the 1980s and has been widely examined as to their existence, their concepts, paradigm in building toward maturity, model analytical and applications in the real world, with the contribution of a large number of authors, national and international, pointing to the fight against poverty and living up to their status instrument that embodies the object of research. Already addressing poverty was designed around two axes: the first deals with poverty as a problem for knowledge, involving different concepts around the topic and bringing measurements that give an approximate idea of their extent and significance, and point the direction of the concrete measures and programs geared to their effective coping. The second axis consists of working poverty as a problem for the action, including social protection and public policies that build their quantitative reduction as an important element of the performance of State and other organizations in that particular field. We examined texts by important authors who have studied the subject in the context of various areas of knowledge they represent, rising data and information about community programs and projects successful, virtuous, to overcome poverty through the use of social capital, both in Brazil and in other countries, synthesizing this process of dealing with the problem as a matter inserted in the struggle for human rights and sustainable economic-social-environmental on the planet. The family, who in the postwar period came to be regarded as an outdated institution, for lack of functionality in modern times has resumed its role as a social subject indispensable to welcome and care for children and the elderly, as a reference for its members and partner essential for the implementation of public policy / social. It is worth noting the importance of family planning and execution of projects of life, starting point so you can glimpse an effective fight against poverty. The life project aims to immediate improvement of education, health, housing and employment and is located in direct opposition to the survival strategies that are concerned only with the immediate needs. The family is of fundamental role in the composition of this thesis work, especially on the approach of the constructive potential of what has been termed Family Social Capital, a still embryonic notion that shows promising perspectives in regard to fighting poverty through the relational goods produced personal relationships, own unique, established by family members in their scope and in the community context in which it is established.

No description available.

The research project empirically assesses the influence of an under-researched aspect of social capital on the family firm’s entrepreneurial behaviors. Specifically, blending social capital, which consists of bonding social capital and bridging social capital that develops between family firms and external family stakeholders, is considered in examining the family firm’s engagement in innovation efforts. Additionally, familial tie strength and outside business ownership of external family stakeholders are argued to moderate the proposed relationship between blending social capital and family firm innovation. The surveying methods for assessing the hypothesized relationships included conducting a two-wave study with adapted, modified, and validated scales. Also, some variables were collected using the Mississippi Secretary of State, the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey databases. The theoretical model is analyzed using hierarchical regression and moderated regression using IBM SPSS 28 Process Macro (Hayes, 2021), structural equation modeling with AMOS, and scale development techniques to ensure the validity and reliability of the measurement instruments. The goal is to identify potential antecedents for enhancing the innovation capabilities of family firms.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / Robert K. Schaeffer / The United States has resettled unaccompanied minors before. In the 1960s and 1970s, minors from Indochina were resettled in the United States. In the 1970s, the U.S accepted 14,000 unaccompanied minors from Cuba through Operation Peter Pan. Many of these Cuban minors, aged five to eighteen, were sent to the United States by parents fearing their children would be indoctrinated in communist schools. In the case of these minors, they arrived in the United States with the consent of their still-living family members. In contrast, about 3,500 Sudanese Lost Boys were resettled in the United States in 2000, and more recently in 2010, 53 “lost children” from Haiti were brought to the United States following a devastating earthquake. This study investigated the integration and assimilation patterns of the Sudanese Lost Boys in the Kansas City area with the purpose of understanding the sociological impact on these Boys from their own perspective. As opposed to previous studies done on these Boys in Kansas and other areas in the United States, the present study used interview-based research and analyzed data using both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The study concluded that the Lost Boys were both “Lost” and “Found” in complex ways. The study found that unaccompanied refugees labeled as minors at the time of resettlement integrated more “successfully” than those resettled as adults. Minor Boys received certain advantages over Boys who were labeled legal adults. Over time, those resettled as minors accumulated more social capital relevant in American society, while those resettled as legal adults fell behind. The findings highlighted problems associated with age-based treatment of refugees, especially in the case of the Boys who were arbitrarily classified as adults. Assigned ages significantly impacted their assimilation process into American society. Unlike those Boys resettled as minors, legal adults did not have access to structure and immersion opportunities afforded by foster families, formal education, and social activities. This study concluded that age-based disadvantage was evident in the case of the Lost Boys.

The maintaining of health and well-being in the academic field of work is a widespread challenge. The increased interest in social capital provides an opportunity for public health coordinators in the academic field to advance their social agendas so that optimal development within the relationship between social capital and health and well-being can be constant that in turn enhance good working environments. This relationship between social capital and health and well-being is embedded in networks of trust which lead to coordination and cooperation in the academic field of work for mutual benefit. Provided by social capital, there is a great opportunity for health coordinators, to flex their theoretical muscles in coming to grips with the social elements of health determinants and health promotions within the academic field of work. To understand the more progressive interpretation of social capital, it calls for the creation of health promoting communities through a process of mutual reinforcement of the social and the economic sector (workplace). This study will distinguish between the micro, meso and macro levels of social capital within health and well-being, within the academic field of work, with the specific linking, bonding and bridging in their specific dimensions. / Thesis (M.A.(Sociology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2014

Abstract Title: Building Trust: The contradiction between security and democracy in post apartheid South Africa Author: Magnus Persson Supervisor: Svante Lundberg This paper aims to investigate the contradiction between security and democracy in post-apartheid South African policing, and was executed on the field together with the South African Police Service (SAPS). The theoretical point of departure is that trust between people, in relation to the institutions of society, is fundamental to democratic development. This in combination with previous research on police reform, police academy socialization, community policing and militarization has lead to the conclusion that a remilitarization process is under way and that a militaristic approach to policing is likely to be counterproductive in terms of achieving democratic development. The study has been executed on a South African police academy as well as at two different police stations with the combined methods of participatory observation and interviews.

Many scholars claim that Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious phenomenon in human history. Using two important essays of Max Weber as a foundation, this thesis examines whether growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is promoting the Protestant Ethic described by Weber as well as Social Capital and Spiritual Capital. Analyzing data from the World Values Survey, this thesis argues that growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is not creating a new Protestant Ethic among its followers, nor is Pentecostalism creating any greater Social Capital or Spiritual Capital among its followers when compared to other religious groups in the region. This thesis argues that the strong emotional character of Pentecostalism weighs against the creation or Social Capital and Spiritual Capital and that the tendency of Pentecostals to find assurance of their salvation in emotional experience does not promote the frugality or rationalization of work necessary for the Protestant Ethic.

The innovation ecosystem’s online presence continues to grow with the emergence and maturation of ICT-based platforms. With these new channels, a diversity of actors, including firms, scientists, universities, media entities, and individuals, interact to satisfy their information needs and to access and mobilize network-based resources. This research is among a growing number of social science studies examining the advent of social media and its influence on the innovation process, asking, “How do different types of actors use social media to form network linkages, and what kinds of innovative outcomes will result?” To study this complex network activity, I turn to Twitter, the popular microblogging service, and focus on the case of graphene, a novel nanotechnology material consisting of a two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms. Twitter is one of the world’s most often-used social networks, boasting over 500 million users (200+ million active). Graphene, on the other hand, is a relatively well-bounded area of scientific inquiry with ongoing, concurrent scientific and commercialization activity. The primary sample dataset derives from 34 graphene firms’ friend and followers relationships captured in early 2014. Nine interview transcripts supply qualitative data. The results show that network formation on Twitter is not random and that certain actor relationships predict following linkages. A series of network visualizations show that users agglomerate in communities; these communities exhibit greater density than the larger ecosystem network and a propensity to congeal in topically focused ways. That is, each community indicates a coherent topical focus, suggesting that graphene firms follow specific sets of users in ways that support their information and resource needs. At the micro-level, an unstructured text mining approach to operationalizing and computing information distance shows that increasing amounts of topical distance between any two users decreases the likelihood of a tie existing. Are innovation outcomes more likely to occur in strategically-developed and information-rich social media networks? Drawing on different sources of “behavioral additionality” – or changes in behaviors as a result of social media participation – I identify ex-ante several such plausible outcomes, which could include increased awareness, improved problem solving ability, community development, and greater sales. The qualitative results show that social media participation results in increased awareness of graphene and related ecosystem topics, but engagement is a key tactical maneuver that actors pursue, often in varying ways, to access and mobilize other resources. Policy implications are targeted at intermediary institutions and scientists, while management implications focus on high-technology SMEs. Limitations include alternative theories to explaining social media participation and engagement, methodological issues, and the continuing evolution of social media platforms and usage patterns. Future work is considered to address the temporal nature of network construction and topical growth (or constriction), as well as the ability to map areas of science and technology through social media data.