Application of Different Techniques of Factor Analysis to Develop Neighborhood Social Capital Rating Scale

Social capital is one of the key concepts that have recently attracted attention in a wide range of academic disciplines and one of the most serious challenges in social capital research is the lack of appropriate tools. Social capital is divided into several sub-concepts. Neighborhood social capital is one of these sub-concepts that needs an accurate measurement. The present study has investigated the adequacy of the modified scale based on Nahapiet and Ghoshal model in measuring neighborhood social capital. This psychometric study is part of a national survey study that was conducted in all provinces of Iran. A modified form of social capital scale based on Nahapiet and Ghoshal model was implemented on 3000 participants that were selected by a combination of cluster and stratified sampling methods. Data were analyzed using R, Amos, and SPSS-20 software. Explanatory Factor analysis by Parallel Analysis (PA) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) recommended four factorial solutions and by Very Simple Structure (VSS) and Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) recommended one factorial structures. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) results prepared more evidence to accept four factorial structures that was naming a trust, communication, collaboration, and values. The result confirmed that the neighborhood social capital is multi factorial construct rather than one factorial.