Documenting the Development of Social Capital in a Community Safety Promotion Coalition Using Social Network Analysis

Hanson D¹*, Muller R² and Durrheim D²

1. James Cook University, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
2. James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

This study uses social network analysis as a tool to document the growth of social capital within The Mackay / Whitsunday Safe Communities Project (MWSCP), a community based safety promotion network.

Social Network Analysis is a quantitative sociological technique that maps and analyses the structural relationships between people in a social network. A questionnaire regarding the nature and quality of relationships was distributed throughout the network and analysed using UCINET software.

The network, which initially consisted of 64 people, has expanded to include over 100 members, representing 47 government, business and community originations. More importantly the network has become more cohesive, with the average number of relationships between network members increasing from 2.06 to 4.72 and a significant increase in the density of relationships [0.02 in Feb 2000 cf 0.05 in Aug 2004 (p<0.0005)]

However, analysis of member roles indicates that a small number of central actors play a critical role in facilitating communication between different groups within the network and via this brokering role are the major engine for problem solving within the network.

Social Network Analysis is a useful tool for documenting the growth of social capital within a community safety promotion coalition Two distinct forms of social capital have been documented. Firstly the growth of network cohesion and secondly the critical role played by a small number of key actors who perform an important brokerage function within the network.

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