Pre-Conference Workshops

Social Capital, Social Networks and Measurement.

Facilitator/s:

Martin Everett

Workshop Description:

There has been a close link between the development of social capital theory and its manifestation in social network structures. Network position significantly affects the social capital available to individuals. Those occupying central positions with many direct connections typically enjoy greater influence and faster access to information. However, individuals positioned as bridges between otherwise disconnected groups—occupying structural holes—often possess unique advantages. They control information flow between segments, access diverse perspectives, and can broker opportunities that others cannot. These concepts relate to bonding and bridging social capital respectively. In this talk, we discuss the development of these ideas and critically examine the proposed measures. We pay particular attention to the measures proposed by Burt—constraint and effective size—in his theory of structural holes, examining how they perform and how they have been used and extended across different areas of application.

Objectives or Learning Outcomes:
Intended Audience:
About the Facilitator/s:

Martin Everett is Professor of Social Network Analysis and co-director of the Mitchell Centre for Social Network Analysis at the University of Manchester  He holds a BSc in mathematics from Loughborough University, an MSc from Oxford University, and a DPhil jointly awarded by mathematics and sociology from Oxford, where he was supervised by Clyde Mitchell, a founding figure in social network analysis. With Stephen Borgatti, he co-authored UCINET, a widely-used software package for social network analysis, and edits the journal Network Science. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and consulted with government agencies and private companies. 

About the workshops

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the conference will host up to 30 half-day workshops, running in both morning and afternoon sessions, before the opening keynote presentation by Professor Robert Putnam in the evening.

These workshops will span a wide range of topics connected to social capital, offering space for hands-on practice, in-depth research exploration, applied analysis, and more. They provide an opportunity for participants to engage closely with experts, develop practical skills, and exchange insights in a more interactive format than the main conference sessions.

Workshop Signup will be available with the conference registration

Registration will open in October 2025. Even before registration opens, you can register your Expression of Interest to receive timely updates, registration reminders, and program news directly from the organisers.

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Want to facilitate a workshop?

We invite proposals for workshops to be held in conjunction with Social Capital 2026. We welcome submissions from academics, practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, and others with relevant expertise or experience.

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