Beyond theory

Measuring social capital dimensions among teff-producing farmers in Ethiopia

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22414902
AutoresAzeb Bekele Habtewolde (0009-0009-6308-4524, Jimma University, autor correspondente), Berhanu Kuma Shano (Wolaita Sodo University), Daniel Belay (0000-0002-5724-6234, Ambo University), Teferi Tolera (Jimma University)
Ano2026
Páginas1-16
Data de publicação2026-07-12
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAgrekon (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0303-1853 • E-ISSN: 2078-0400
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03031853.2026.2694341
OpenAlexW7168163296
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas52

Over the last three decades, social capital has gained increasing attention in the development literature. However, despite its popularity, problems related to its definition, conceptualisation, and measurement have so far been limited. This study aims to measure teff-producing farmers’ social capital in the West Shoa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. The study developed composite indicators for assessing the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital using data collected from a survey of 357 teff producers. Data sets of indicators of social capital dimensions were subjected to principal component analyses (PCAs). The suitability of performing PCAs was supported by Bartlett's test of sphericity and the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sample adequacy. Following the principal component extraction, intermediate composite indicators for the social capital dimensions were calculated. Ultimately, linear weighted aggregations of the intermediate composite indicators were used to calculate the composite indicators. A composite indicator is constructed to analyse each dimension of the social capital that farmers have built. Cronbach's alpha was used to verify the composite indicators’ internal consistency. The approach produced robust, construct-valid, single, synthetic measurements for the social capital dimensions, though it leaves many contextual details open that require further improvement. This measurement established an operational measure of the dimensions of social capital for individual teff-producing farmers in the study area. That is, the study offered useful information that can be used for measuring the structural, relational, and cognitive social capital at the farmers’ level.

Composite indicator · Economic capital · Principal component analysis · Social capital · Social status · Community and Sustainable Development · Community Health and Development · Social Capital and Networks