ABSTRACT
This chapter presents one slice of the debate by probing the neighborhood-level dimensions of social capital and, by implication, what may be a more appropriate higher order construct—neighborhood social organization. It examines the “ecometric” measurement properties of between-neighborhood variations, with a focus on how different measures hang together across communities. The chapter describes the structural predictors of neighborhood social capital and beyond to determine whether there is a general pattern of results versus dimension-specific predictors. It aims to assess the link of concepts with measures while comparing two very different methodologies—surveys of community residents and surveys of institutional leaders. The leadership levels of contacts and involvement are positively linked to disadvantage, likely because of resource dependence. The link between stability and leadership-based social capital also parallels the link between stability and resident-based social capital. Racial diversity seems to have a positive impact on leadership-based social capital.
