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Reliability and Validity of the Personal Social Capital Scale 16 and Personal Social Capital Scale 8: Two Short Instruments for Survey Studies

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Abstract

Rapid developments in social capital and health research require short instruments for large-scale survey studies. The Personal Social Capital Scale (PSCS) is a theory-based and empirically tested instrument with reliability and validity established in the US and China, but it is too long for large-scale survey research. In this study, we described two short versions of the instrument: the PSCS-16 and PSCS-8. The two short scales were evaluated with survey data collected among an adult sample (N = 259) in China. The sample consisted of rural-to-urban migrants and non-migrant rural and urban residents. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were .90 for the PSCS-18 and .83 for the PSCS-8. Both short instruments satisfactorily fit a two-factor model comprising the bonding capital and bridging capital subscales. The two short scales were highly correlated with the original PSCS (r = .95 for the PSCS-18 and .93 for the PSCS-8 respectively, p < .001 for both); significantly distinguished the migrant subsample from the two non-migrant subsamples; and significantly predicted social capital investment and stress level. In conclusion, the two short instruments PSCS-16 and PSCS-8 were reliable and valid, and can be used in large-scale survey studies to assess personally owned social capital. Further research is needed to replicate their reliability and validity in different cultural settings and to establish the test–retest reliability.

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Correspondence to Peigang Wang.

Appendix: Personal Social Capital Scale (full version)

Appendix: Personal Social Capital Scale (full version)

Cap1. How do you rate the number of people in each of the following six categories?

A lot

More than average

Average

Less than average

A few

Your family members

5

4

3

2

1

Your relatives

5

4

3

2

1

People in your neighborhood

5

4

3

2

1

Your friends

5

4

3

2

1

Your coworkers/fellows

5

4

3

2

1

Your country fellows/old classmates

5

4

3

2

1

Cap2. With how many of people in each of the following categories do you keep a routine contact?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Your family members

5

4

3

2

1

Your relatives

5

4

3

2

1

People in your neighborhood

5

4

3

2

1

Your friends

5

4

3

2

1

Your coworkers/fellows

5

4

3

2

1

Your country fellows/old classmates

5

4

3

2

1

Cap3. Among the people in each of the following six categories, how many can you trust?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Your family members

5

4

3

2

1

Your relatives

5

4

3

2

1

People in your neighborhood

5

4

3

2

1

Your friends

5

4

3

2

1

Your coworkers/fellows

5

4

3

2

1

Your country fellows/old classmates

5

4

3

2

1

Cap4. Among people in each of the following six categories, how many will definitely help you upon your request?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Your family members

5

4

3

2

1

Your relatives

5

4

3

2

1

People in your neighborhood

5

4

3

2

1

Your friends

5

4

3

2

1

Your coworkers/fellows

5

4

3

2

1

Your country fellows/old classmates

5

4

3

2

1

Cap5. When people in all the six categories are considered, how many possess the following assets/resources?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Certain political power

5

4

3

2

1

Wealth or owners of an enterprise or a company

5

4

3

2

1

Broad connections with others

5

4

3

2

1

High reputation/influential

5

4

3

2

1

With high school or more education

5

4

3

2

1

With a professional job

5

4

3

2

1

Cap6. How do you rate the number of the following two types of groups/organizations in your community?

A lot

More than average

Average

Less than average

A few

Governmental, political, economic and social groups/organizations (political parties, women’s groups, village committees, trade union, cooperate associations, volunteer groups, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cultural, recreational and leisure groups/organizations (religious, country fellows, alumni, sport, music, dances, crafts, games, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cap7. Do you participate in activities for how many of each of these two types of groups and organizations?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Governmental, political, economic and social groups/organizations (political parties, women’s groups, village committees, trade union, cooperate associations, volunteer groups, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cultural, recreational and leisure groups/organizations (religious, country fellows, alumni, sport, music, dances, crafts, games, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cap8. Among each of the two types of groups and organizations, how many represent your rights and interests?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Governmental, political, economic and social groups/organizations (political parties, women’s groups, village committees, trade union, cooperate associations, volunteer groups, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cultural, recreational and leisure groups/organizations (religious, country fellows, alumni, sport, music, dances, crafts, games, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cap9. Among each of the two types of groups and organizations, how many will help you upon your request?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Governmental, political, economic and social groups/organizations (political parties, women’s groups, village committees, trade union, cooperate associations, volunteer groups, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cultural, recreational and leisure groups/organizations (religious, country fellows, alumni, sport, music, dances, crafts, games, etc)

5

4

3

2

1

Cap10. When all groups and organizations in the two categories are considered, how many possess the following assets/resources?

All

Most

Some

A few

None

Significant power for decision making

5

4

3

2

1

Solid financial basis

5

4

3

2

1

Broad social connections

5

4

3

2

1

Great social influence

5

4

3

2

1

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Wang, P., Chen, X., Gong, J. et al. Reliability and Validity of the Personal Social Capital Scale 16 and Personal Social Capital Scale 8: Two Short Instruments for Survey Studies. Soc Indic Res 119, 1133–1148 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0540-3

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