Social capital makes rational action theory incorporate social structure.

Evidence

In this paper, the concept of social capital is introduced and illustrated, its forms are described, the social structural conditions under which it arises are examined, and it is used in an analysis ol dropouts from high school. Use of the concept of social capital is part of a general theoretical strategy discussed in the paper: taking rational action as a starting point but rejecting the extreme individualistic premises that often accompany it. The conception of social capital as a resource for action is one way of introducing social structure into the rational action paradigm. Three forms of social capital are examined: obligations and expectations, information channels, and social norms. The role of closure in the social structure in facilitating the first and third of these forms of social capital is described. — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 7

Categorization

• XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s analytical project: Coleman’s three forms of social capital and the role of closure connect to the reading purpose about network closure (Coleman) versus public institutions, and to Granovetter’s weak ties. — connects to: Social capital grafts social structure onto rational-choice theory. — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 7; Rational action theory can analyze social systems without discarding social organization — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 31
• DEFINE: Defines social capital as a resource for action that introduces social structure into rational action theory, and enumerates its three forms.

Related

• Social capital grafts social structure onto rational-choice theory. (similarity 0.92)
• Rational action theory can analyze social systems without discarding social organization (similarity 0.89)
• Social capital is productive, structural, and defined by its function. (similarity 0.83)
• Social capital facilitates actions that would otherwise be impossible. (similarity 0.82)
• Social capital acts as a shorthand for unpacking later (similarity 0.81)
• Coleman — SocialCapitalCreation-1988 (similarity 0.81)
• Communal social capital shapes children’s development beyond family resources. (similarity 0.80)
• Social capital exists as obligations, information flows, and sanctioned norms (similarity 0.79)
• Community social capital substitutes for missing family social capital. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Social capital grafts social structure onto rational-choice theory. #corroborates (1.00) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 7
• Rational action theory can analyze social systems without discarding social organization #corroborates (0.75) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 31