1. Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
from Chilean isolated villages case studies.
Research funded by the Fondo de Desarrollo de Ciencia y Tecnología
(FONDECYT) n.1120866 del Gobierno de Chile.
José Ignacio Porras
CISPO – Universidad de los Lagos

2. Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
The research aims to analyze the effect of different
frequency and uses of Internet in the individual social
capital of people living in critical isolated villages.
Make a
contribution to the
knowledge about
the social impact of
Internet in the
Chilean Society.
Explore theoretical
relationship
between Social
Capital and
Internet
Advice policy
makers to renew
strategies for
integration of
isolated villages.

3. It´s assumes the notion of social capital supported by Nan Lin. This author places
the roots of social capital in the interaction between individuals and the resources
actually or potentially available. Thus, the concept of social capital is treated as
investment in social relations with expectations of access to resources (Lin, 1999)
Social Capital Concept from Social Network Theory
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
Internet and Social Capital Literature
Does the Internet
Increase, Decrease, or
Supplement Social
Capital?
Does the Internet
strengthens or
weakness social ties?
What is the role of
Internet as a plataform
of civic engagement
and collective action?

4. • H1. High frequency and social use of Internet modifies the pattern of relationships among
persons who lives in critical isolated villages diversifying social networks
and, therefore, extending opportunities for the access and the mobilization of resources.
• H2.- High-frequency and social users of Internet who live in critical isolated villages
contribute to the communitarian social capital extending and diversifying social structure
and, therefore, make a more favorable situation to collective action process.
• H3.- High frequency and social users of Internet who live in critical isolated villages
contributes to strength communitarian identity moving beyond geographical constrains.
Hypotheses
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

5. Method Research
Villages
Rio Ibáñez
Lago Verde
Tortel
Villa O´Higgins
Case Studies
Villages
Maria Pinto
San Pedro
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
Critical
Isolated
Conditions
High
Isolated
Conditions

6. Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
The Aysen Region
The third largest region in Chile (108.494,4
km²), it is the most sparsely populated region
with a population of 105,000. The population
density is 0,85 inhabitants per km ². (93,51
hab/km² - Spain)
Being the last region to be joined to Chile, an
european setlement, promoted by the Chilean
government, started at the beginning of XX
century. Coyhaique, the regional capital, was
founded in 1929.
Road access to Aysen region from the rest of
Chile is provided by the Carretera Austral. It
was started in 1976 and finished in 2003.
During the last 5 years, the Chilean
government has subsidized a high quality
access to Internet in Aysen.

7. Key
Informants
Qualitative
Interviews
Survey
Social Networks
Interviews and
Focus Groups
2012 2013
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

8. Researchers
•José Ignacio Porras, Cientista Político (Investigador Responsable)
•John W. Durston, Antropólogo
•Rubén Pino, Sociólogo
•Miguel Pérez Bade, Cientista Político
•Erika Silva Urbano, Educadora
•Catalina Careaga, Antropóloga
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

9. www.internetycapitalsocial.cl
Events
Preliminar Seminar
Regional and Local
Workshops
Ending Seminar
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

10. Preliminary
Findings
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

11.  Survey Design: 38 core questions + 5 social characterization questions
 Sample for quotas: 623 cases (4 villages in Aysen adn 2 villages in control group.
People aged over 14 living in selected villages and Internet users (at least once per
week).
The implementation of the survey was face to face.
Period: november 2012
Survey
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

12. Sociodemographics Variables
44.8
55,2
Men Women
Gender
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

13. 0.8
43.1
50.2
5.9
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Menos de 15 años
Entre 15 y 29 años*
Entre 30 y 50*
Más de 50
Aged
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

14. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Estudia* Trabaja* Estudia y
trabaja*
Dueña de
casa*
Jubilado Desocupado o
cesante
7.7
77.2
2.1
10.4
0
2.7
Occupation
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

15. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
Hogar Trabajo Lugar de
estudio
Cibercafes Telecentros Celular Otro
79.90%
37.40%
2.50% 1.80% 5.10%
15.00%
1.20%
Main Internet Access Point
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

16. Frequency Use of Internet
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Menos de 1 vez a
la semana
1 ó 2 veces a la
semana
De 3 a 6 días por
semana
Todos los días
2.9
18.9 17.9
60.4
Nada o Muy Poco Bastante o Siempre
1- 2 times
a week
3 – 4 times
a week
4- 6 times
a week
Everyday
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
Nada o muy poco Siempre o bastante

17. Types of Use
General User
Uso General
Social User n.1
Uso Social 1
Social User n.2
Uso Social 2
No specific
purposes
Highest frequency: To be
connected with nuclear
and exted family as well
as friends .
52,7%vs 47,3%
Higuest frequency: To
search new relationships
67,6%vs 32,4%
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

18. How Internet contributes to overcome the isolation perception?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
17.10%
8.10%
17.30%
3.50%
11.80%
6.00%
51.30%
40.00%
48.80%
36.90%
40.90% 42.20%
31.60%
51.90%
34.00%
59.60%
47.30%
51.70%
Nada o Muy Poco Medianamente Mucho o Completamente
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

19. Expansion and diversification of social network
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

20. In the last three years, the persons that you consider to be friend…..?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Uso General -
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General -
Siempre y
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
6.90% 6.70% 7.70%
6.00%
7.70%
4.60%
58.40%
54.30%
59.90%
50.60%
58.50%
49.00%
34.70%
39.00%
32.40%
43.40%
33.80%
46.40%
Ha disminuido Se ha mantenido Ha aumentado
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

21. In the last three years, the persons that you have know outside of your village…
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
3.00% 2.90% 3.60% 2.40% 2.90% 3.30%
46.50%
40.40%
47.70%
36.20%
46.60%
34.20%
50.50%
56.70%
48.60%
61.40%
50.50%
62.50%
Ha disminuido Se ha mantenido Ha aumentado
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

22. In assessing the extent to which the use of Internet is correlated with changes in
friendships ("Strong ties") and new persons known outside of the villages (“Weak ties"),
it is possible to identify significant differences according to frequency and type of uses
of Internet. This situation is less clear for Internet users living in high isolation conditions
(control group)
• H1. High frequency of social use of Internet modifies the pattern of relationships of the
persons who lives in critical isolate villages extending and diversifying social networks
and, therefore, extending the opportunities for the access and the mobilization of
resources.
On the other hand, low frequency use of Internet, whatever type of use, is high
correlated with poor and homogeneous social network. Not only on-line, but also off-
line.
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach
Expansion and diversification of social network

23. Access to secondary resources, who support me?
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

24. If you should have to face a serious problem (financial, health…), whom you ask
for help?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
77.20% 76.80%
82.20%
79.20%
83.20%
74.60%
26.10%
29.10%
26.50%
33.50%
27.10%
37.30%
20.70% 19.00%
16.20%
24.10%
16.80%
29.40%
Familia Famia Nuclear Familia Extendida Amigos
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

25. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
13.20% 14.20%
16.10%
11.70%
14.00% 13.60%
56.60% 57.20%
60.00%
54.70%
60.70%
49.40%
30.20% 28.60%
23.90%
33.60%
25.20%
37.00%
Ninguno (Nadie) Al menos 1 (Alguien) Más de 2 diferentes (varios)
If you should have to face a serious problem (financial, health,…), how
many persons would provide you help?
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

26. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
78.30%
67.00%
74.60%
65.00%
73.20%
60.90%
21.70%
33.00%
25.40%
35.00%
26.80%
39.10%
No tiene 1 o más
How many of these persons live outside of your villages and you are frequently
connected with them by Internet?
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

27. Some significant differences can be appreciated in terms of number of sources of Social
Capital. When increases frequency and social use of Internet, the sources of Social Capital
tend to be extend and diversified beyond territorial constrains of the villages.
 No matters frequency or type of Internet use. A nuclear family appears as the principal
source of support. In a second place it is the extend family and friends. The nuclear family
appears mentioned as first sources of support in high isolated villages (control group), but
it increases the importance of other sources of social capital.
H1. High frequency of social use of Internet modifies the pattern of relationships
of the persons who lives in critical isolate villages extending and diversifying
social networks and, therefore, extending the opportunities for the access and
the mobilization of resources.
Access to secondary resources or who support me?
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

28. From Individual Social Capital to Communitarian Social Capital
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

29. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
Uso General-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso General-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 1-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 1-
Siempre o
bastante
Uso Social 2-
Nada o muy
poco
Uso Social 2 -
Siempre o
bastante
80.00%
74.70%
79.30%
72.30%
76.30% 74.30%
9.50%
13.80%
10.10%
15.00%
12.60% 12.50%10.50% 11.40% 10.60% 12.60% 11.00%
13.20%
Nunca o Muy rara vez A veces Diariamente o frecuentemente
How many times you move outside of your village?
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

30. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
Se ha mantenido -
Nunca o Pocas Veces
Se ha mantenido -
Siempre o muchas
veces
Ha aumentado -Nunca Ha aumentado -
Siempre o algunas
veces
13.60%
6.50%
11.30%
4.50%
62.10%
19.60%
54.70%
17.30%
24.30%
73.90%
34.00%
78.20%
Se comunica poco o nada Se comunica a veces Se comunica bastante o siempre
How many times you meet with people of your villages?. (According to
increase or preserve new social ties in Internet. )
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

31.  Some preliminar findings support a new conjeture: the emergence of a new form of
brokerage in critical isolated villages by those people who extend and diversified social
capital in nternet.
Under conditions of high density of social structure inside of the critical isolated villages
and the homogenity of resources mobilized in, there is a favorable situation for the
transference of the extend and diversified individual social capital beyond of territorial
constrains.
H2.- High-frequency and social users of Internet who live in critical isolated villages contribute
to the communitarian social capital extending and diversifying social structure
and, therefore, make a more favorable situation to collective action.
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

32. February 2012, social mobilization in Aysen
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

33. In sum up
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

34. High-frequency and social use of Internet provides chances to increase social networks
and, therefore, resources. Under high level isolated living conditions it can suppose,
as much, a supplement of previous social capital. But under critical isolations living
conditions it makes a significant difference as a result of breaking social enclosure in
terms of high density of social structure and homogeneity of resources mobilized it.
Conclusions.
Individual Social Capital
New alternative routes for communitarian development are also opened by the
high-frequency and social users of Internet. They emerge as a new kind of brokerage
in the village supplement traditional ones.
Communitarian Social Capital
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach

35. José Ignacio Porras Martínez
Profesor-Investigador
Centro de Investigación Sociedad y Políticas Públicas (CISPO)
Universidad de los Lagos – Campus Republica, Santiago-
Correo: joseiporras@yahoo.com
www.internetycapitalsocial.cl
Internet and Social Capital. A preliminary approach