Computer Utilization, Social Capital and Basic Social Service Accessibility in Central America

The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between computer utilization, community participation, and basic social service accessibility. Social capital theory and technological development theory are used to develop a theoretical model of basic social service accessibility. The relatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The innovation journal 2012, Vol.17 (3), p.1
Main Authors: Bachelor, Jolynne, Bolton, Kristin Whitehill, Fericelli, Paul-Jesús, Terry, Laura Frank, Hancock, Pamela, Nikolva, Silviya, Pillai, Vijayan, Ruiz, Erica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Central America
Citizen participation
Communication
Community Involvement
Computer literacy
Computers
Developing countries
Economic development
Factor Analysis
Honduras
LDCs
Meetings
Nicaragua
Reproductive health
Respondents
Social Capital
Social networks
Social Services
Studies
Technological change
Technology
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Summary:The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between computer utilization, community participation, and basic social service accessibility. Social capital theory and technological development theory are used to develop a theoretical model of basic social service accessibility. The relationship was tested on two levels; first confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop measurement models of latent factors. Secondly, structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model of basic social service accessibility. Data for testing the model were extracted from a study on democratic behavior and social capital in four Central and South American countries. The sample consists of 600 respondents, 300 each from Nicaragua and Honduras. Even in a poor country such as Nicaragua, extensive use of computer brings about significant improvements in basic social service accessibility. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1715-3816
1715-3816