An Extended Fuzzy-DEMATEL System for Factor Analyses on Social Capital Selection in the Renovation of Old Residential Communities

China has been promoting the renovation of old residential communities vigorously.Due to the financial pressure of the government and the sustainability of the renovation of old residential communities,public-private partnerships(PPP)have already gained attention.The selection of social capital is key to improving the efficiency of the PPP model in renovating old residential communities.In order to determine the influencing factors of social capital selection in the renovation of old residential communities,this paper aims to find an effective approach and analyze these factors.In this paper,a fuzzy decision-making and trial evaluation laboratory(fuzzy-DEMATEL)technique is extended and amore suitable systemis developed for the selection of social capital using the existing group decisionmaking theory.In the first stage,grounded theory is used to extract the unabridged key influencing factors for social capital selection in the renovation of old residential communities.Secondly,by considering the impact of expert weights,the key influencing factors are identified.The interactions within these influencing factors are discussed and the credibility of the results is verified by sensitivity analysis.Finally,these key influencing factors are sorted by importance.Based on the results,the government should focus on a technical level,organizationalmanagement abilities,corporate reputation,credit status,etc.This study provides the government with a theoretical basis and a methodology for evaluating social capital selection.

Relationship between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions among Community-Based Elderly

The concept of social capital encompasses all relationships and networks among people in a local community or society as a whole. It has been found to be associated with the health and daily living status of people. Furthermore, an association between social capital and cognitive functions among the elderly has been suggested in recent years. However, the number of such reports is very few. Hence, the present study aims to evaluate the relationship between social capital and cognitive functions among the elderly living in a local community in Japan. A questionnaire survey was administered to 192 elderly individuals belonging to 10 neighborhood elderly groups. A regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between cognitive functions and the level of engagement with the local community, after adjusting for age, gender, and symptoms of depression. Valid responses were collected from 145 participants (mean age: 75.3 years). An analysis of the data concerning the level of engagement with the local community revealed a significant difference in the cognitive function scores between the group of people who indicated that they had someone they could consult (n = 69) and the group that indicated they had no one to consult (n = 76) (regression coefficient: -0.61, p = 0.0038, 95% confidence interval: -1.02 to -0.20). This result indicates the existence of a significant correlation between social capital and cognitive functions of the elderly living in a local community. In future studies, we need to investigate the same with a larger number of participants from a wider geographical area, and by incorporating more indicators for a comprehensive evaluation of social capital.

The impact of social capital on children's (6–12) use of ICT in urban communities: A field survey from Zhengzhou City, Henan Province

Purpose： This paper focuses on the impact of social capital on urban children＇s use behavior of information communication technology （ICT）.Design/methodology/approach： Using the field survey and in-depth interviews, we interviewed 40 children aged 6 to 12 and their parents from a staff residential quarter of the Zhengzhou University--＂Shengheyuan＂ community （SHY）, and a commercial residential quarter--＂Wanfenghuicheng＂ community （WFHC） in the high-tech zone of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. We used the social capital theory to analyze the interviewees＇ record.Findings： In urban communities, social capital is the most important factor for children （aged 6 to 12） in their ICT use. Our findings indicate that children in families with higher levels of social capital, such as internal resources, family income, parent educational backgrounds and parents＇ social network, have more-highly developed ICT skills. Personal motivation and obstacles, such as lack of access to computers on a regular basis, also have an impact on children＇s ICT use. External social capital, including schools, libraries, and public service institutes, have little impact on children＇s ICT use, if not combined with internal social capital factors.Research limitations： Our research samples were collected from two communities within the same city, which may influence the generalization of this research result.Originality/value： To explore the social capital＇s influence on children＇s ICT use, we used field observation for ICT use of children aged 6 to 12 in urban communities in China, and studied the children＇s ICT behavior from the perspective of internal and external social capital.

“If Somebody Needed Help, I Went Over”: Social Capital and Therapeutic Communities of Older Adult Farmers in British Columbia Floods

Older adults in disaster contexts are often thought of as a passive, vulnerable population that lacks agency and capacities to cope in the aftermath. However, it can be argued that older adults may have underrecognized strengths that can be utilized pre-, peri-, and post-disaster. One of these strengths is older adults' unique social capital that stems from long-standing connections with other members of their respective communities. Using data from in-depth, semistructured interviews with farmers in British Columbia 3–11 months after the 2021 floods, this research explored the experiences of older adult farmers' recovery. The farmers discussed how they leveraged their social capital to aid in their recovery efforts from the flood event. By using their bonding social capital, older adult farmers transformed their existing, deep-rooted connections into post-disaster assistance. This, in turn, generated the idea of the therapeutic community, helping community members cope in the aftermath. This research indicated the need to further examine how older adults in disaster settings can be viewed as assets with community knowledge and skills as opposed to solely as a vulnerable population.

A Comparative Study on Participatory MicroRegeneration of Old Communities: From the Perspective of Social Capital

Along with the rise of democratic consciousness and the slowdown of urbanization and economic growth speed, the community development path in contemporary China is under transition, aiming at a more bottom-up and small-scale planning and design process. In order to reveal how the "social capital" affects the public participation and social governance in the process of community micro-regeneration in China, this paper takes two old communities in Chaoyang District of Beijing as examples, to compare the impacts of various social capital levels on participatory community planning and design. The study proves the significance of community social capital and community self-government for the success of residents’ participation and community regeneration, as well as providing suggestions on how to improve public participation effects by strengthening social capital of communities.

Value of social capital in bridging accidental digital divide among rural residents:A field report on Jinghai county of Tianjin

The paper reports research findings from a field study on accidental ICT help-seeking behaviors in Huifeng West Village and Tuhe Village of Jinghai County,Tianjin.By employing field observation and in-depth interviews,the relations between local residents’ access to and usage of ICT and their social capital are described:seniors tend to rely on bonding social capital when confronting with difficulties in using mobile devices and computers;the middle-aged always make use of bridging and bonding social capital to shoot ICT troubles and prefer to bridging;children and young adults generally ask for help from friends,or after-sales services in their bridging social capital.

Community in the information age： Exploring the social potential of web-based technologies in landscape architecture and community design

Critics have pointed at new technologies as cutprits in the decline of civic life, neighboring and social capital construction in Western societies. When applied to community design and ptanning processes, technologies can empower residents to actively engage in decision-making, foster connections across social groups, with positive consequences on life and sociatization in public spaces. What kind of participation do technotogies foster？ And is it the kind that bridges social and ideotogical divides？ The 2012 community design process for Hawthorne Park in Medford, Oregon illustrates many of the challenges and opportunities connected to the use of new technologies in design. In the process, technologies were instrumental in enlisting a larger-than-usual number of residents to participate in the design of the park. Blogs and online questionnaires were successful in gathering people＇s thoughts on the design choices being made, but also favored a limited, intermittent form of engagement. The results are synthesized in principles for the successful integration of web-based technologies in future community design efforts： adaptability, fuji participation, nuanced participation and the need for links to the physical realm.

Contemporary Currents in Japanese Machizukuri (Citizens Collaborative Community Improvements and Management) and Their Socio-Cultural Meanings

This paper studies the contemporary attempts of Japanese Machizukuri,Citizens Collaborative Community Improvement and Management,and their socio-cultural meanings in order to shed light on the sustainable planning approaches dealing with population ageing and decreasing.In recent years,as response measures for non-physical local issues such as environmental problems and welfare,and with the aim of further enhancing community-centred planning capabilities against a background of decentralisation in various fields and the establishment of civic society,new cooperative/collaborative-style planning theory is being deployed.Through this process,community improvement and management is becoming deeper,in terms of technology,systems,and technique.The study attempts to find out a solution to real-world problems-how to construct a comprehensive planning theory based on spatial and social challenges arising in modern civic communities,with local resources,social capital and systems that have resulted from such issues.It also seeks to show how to achieve a vision for the city as a whole by mutually compiling individual community improvement and management scenarios and programs,based on the autonomous determination and future vision of the organisations and residents that play leading roles in the community.

A Sociological Analysis of the “Strong Central,Weak Local” Pattern of Trust in Government:Based on Three Stage Tracking Data after the Wenchuan Earthquake

Individual and community social capital have had a significant impact on the gap between trust in higher-level governments and trust in local governments.A model including data from thirty villages gathered after the Wenchuan earthquake discovered that ＂the size of the Spring Festival（Chinese New Year） greeting network,＂ ＂the size of the official network at/above township level,＂ and ＂trust in fellow villagers＂ all had a considerable negative effect on the gap between trust in higher-level and local governments.Building individual and community social capital is conducive to establishing a balance between trust in different layers of government;individuals and communities who cooperate with each other have more channels for solving their economic and livelihood issues.Social capital can lead to a significant improvement in the effectiveness of resource matching and utilization involving governments and other sectors of society as well as increasing interaction with government.This can enhance trust in local governments and narrow the gap between trust in higher-level and local governments.

A New Guiding Framework for Engaging Diverse Populations in Disaster Risk Reduction: Reach, Relevance, Receptiveness,and Relationships

In urban environments characterized by rich diversity across language, migration status, demographic profiles, and usage of different forms of media, there can be significant challenges to ensuring that particular disaster risk reduction(DRR) communications reach those potentially affected. This article presents a study with 20 Pacific Island community leaders and connectors about their communities' perspectives and anticipated responses to natural hazards in Auckland, New Zealand. Home to the largest population of Pacific people in the world, Auckland provides the basis for understanding the complexities of delivering disaster information across numerous community groups. The rich cultural and linguistic backgrounds of multiple Pacific communities living in this city highlight the need to consider the complexities of disaster messaging related to natural hazards. In particular, the article forwards the importance of incorporating the guiding concepts of reach, relevance, receptiveness, and relationships into a DRR approach with culturally and linguistically diverse groups. These concepts are presented as an embedded guiding framework that can helpfully inform disaster communication.

Multi-level governance through adaptive co-management:conflict resolution in a Brazilian state park

Introduction:Communities situated in protected areas generate conflicts among park administrators,residents and scientists.Should they stay or should they go?This article presents a positive example of a community existing in a state park.The study describes the community’s governance process as well as how the park administration and the community solve the conflicts that arise and achieve a method of co-management in a multi-level governance process.Methods:The analysis is based on the Management and Transition Framework(MTF).We used a case study approach and collected data via document study,participatory observation and qualitative interviews.Results:We find that the agreed system of community-based co-management has improved the implementation and enforcement of the state park’s rules through negotiation and communication mechanisms in the park council.This relative success is due to the construction of social capital,equality and empowerment.Conclusions:For state parks in similar situations,the findings suggest that:1)a community should have at least a minimal level of self-organization;2)the empowerment of the community in the decision-making process is useful;3)the park administration should gain the trust of the residents;and 4)the effective management of ecosystem services can create a win-win situation for the community as well as the park.