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Do Community Networks Contribute to Social Cohesion

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By developing indicators of social capital in the community ... 5 Alberta, 3 Manitoba, 3 Saskatchewan, 2 Nova Scotia, 2 ... to government policy community ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Do Community Networks Contribute to Social Cohesion


1
Do Community Networks Contribute to Social
Cohesion?
A CRACIN Broadbased Study on Social Engagement
Activities Associated with Publicly Funded
Community Networking Initiatives
  • Marita Moll Director,
  • Telecommunities Canada
  • and
  • CRACIN Co-investigator
  • Presentation to CLN Ontario Forum
  • May 25-26, 2006

2
Social cohesion?
  • the ongoing process of developing a community of
    shared values, shared challenges and equal
    opportunity --necessitates a sense of trust, hope
    reciprocity Jane Jenson
  • measured in social capital

3
Social capital?
  • What we put into that process for the benefit of
    community -- the investments, assets that
    facilitate collective action and build networks
    (social engagement).
  • ex a community choir, a local volunteer fire
    brigade, a neighbourhood soccer team

4
Bridging and bonding
  • Bridging a city-wide/ province-wide soccer
    team, choir, etc. to mix the cultures and
    traditions of various regions.
  • Bonding the cultural, religious and educational
    structures that define an Amish or Hutterite
    colony isolate them from other communities

5
Survey Query
  • Policy assumption Communities must nurture their
    capacities for participation.
  • Do community networks contribute to this process?
    (investment in social capital)
  • Is it the kind of social capital that extends
    beyond that particular site or facility? (offer
    bridging possibilies)
  • Is the quality of life of users enhanced? (lead
    to social cohesion)
  • t

6
How can we find out?
  • By compiling and analyzing existing evaluations
    of selected (mostly federally funded) community
    networking initiatives
  • By scanning literature on social cohesion/social
    capital and relating it to the community
    networking context
  • By developing indicators of social capital in the
    community networking context
  • By administering a survey to CAP, CLN, and other
    community network users
  • By conducting interviews with community partners

7
Why do we want to know?
  • To broaden CRACIN case study research findings
  • To provide a more quantitative basis for policy
    recommendations

8
Why should you want to know?
  • To substantiate public good claims
  • To justify public funding
  • To provide some quantitative data for evaluations

9
Looking for indicators of social capital in
community networks
  • Food is and excuse for getting together with
    people. Computers are also an excuse for getting
    together with people.
  • What are the reasons for coming to the center --
  • -- meet people, find employment, get help?
  • What are people doing when they get there
  • -- personal research, e-mail, on-line
    discussions on local issues
  • What are some unanticipated outcomes
  • -- volunteering, civic participation,
    integration?

10
Survey construction
  • 1. Partnership with the Canadian Council on
    Social Development to develop the questions
    (Sept.-Dec. 2005)
  • 2. Focus Group Testing (Feb/May 2006)
  • St. Christophers House (Toronto)
  • Feb. 5, 2006
  • Communautique (Montreal)
  • May 5, 2006

11
Ethics clearance
  • April 2006
  • Application to the University of Toronto Ethics
    Review Board
  • -- essential step for any research on human
    subjects reviews the project and the process to
    make sure vulnerable populations are protected
    and privacy of subjects is ensured
  • May 2006 -- application approved

12
Survey -- next step
  • We need your help!

13
Survey Sites
  • 56 sites across Canada
  • province breakdown based on population
  • 15 Ontario,
  • 15 Quebec,
  • 5 British Colombia,
  • 5 Alberta,
  • 3 Manitoba,
  • 3 Saskatchewan,
  • 2 Nova Scotia,
  • 2 New Brunswick,
  • 2 Newfoundland and Labrador,
  • 1 Prince Edward Island,
  • 1 North West Territories,
  • 1 Yukon
  • 1 Nunavut.

14
Survey implementation
  • June - Sept. 2006
  • Administrators survey
  • by telephone
  • Users survey
  • 10-12 users/site
  • paper or on-line survey
  • qualitative and quantitative

15
Analysis and Dissemination
  • October 2006 - September 2007
  • Survey instrument and results will be made
    available on the web
  • Presentations to government policy community
  • Academic and community-based publishing and
    presentations

16
  • cracin.ca
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