Beyond Economic and Cultural Capital: Network Correlates of Consumption Tastes and Practices
More details
Hide details
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Polish Sociological Review 2015;192(4):455-474
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This paper attempts to provide a picture of network effect on cultural participation by building on
theoretical concepts of social capital and social networks as well as on original data collected by the author
on 362 inhabitants ofWrocław. The central discussion of the study concerns the relative explanatory power
of network variables (such as intensity of contacts with friends and acquaintances, or access to resources
via social ties) in predicting the reported consumption tastes, practices or knowledge, net of structural
factors. The findings support the hypothesis that more networked persons (particularly those having many
non-kin contacts) are more likely to participate in a greater number of cultural activities and to be more
“omnivorous” consumers. The article concludes with some possible directions of future research.