Social capital in divided societies: Development of a social capital questionnaire in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The population of Northern Ireland is highly divided by religion across multiple aspects of social life including residence, education and employment. Increased understanding of the bonds between and across religious groups may shed light on the nature of group relations within this society. The social capital questionnaire (SCQ) was adapted for use in this religiously divided society. A 44 item pilot measure was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques with two independent samples (N1 = 204, N2 = 251). EFA identified nine factors while confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable model fit of an eight factor solution. Social capital was lower among individuals from religiously segregated areas. Sex-differences in social capital suggest that females may play an important role in the development and maintenance of social capital stocks within and across the religious divide in Northern Ireland. Variations in the factor structure of the SCQ suggest that social capital may be structured differently in different cultures, and highlights the need to develop measures specific to the country or culture of interest.