THE INFLUENCE OF POPULATION SURVEYS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL

Abstract

Population surveys represent an extremely important quantitative method, giving valuable details in regard to the great diversity of characteristics of a state’s population at a certain time. Even though it is extremely important and they are mandatory by nature, the population survey that was done this year in Romania was negatively affected by a series of issues, having to do with the low participation rate which had as a result the postponing of the deadline several times. This situation highlighted the negative attitude that usually the citizens have in connection to state authorities. Social capital, which is mostly based on trust, has a huge rule on the success of the survey. If we are talking about a low social capital, this will usually materialise in a lack of participation of the citizens in the process, but when participation increases this leads to the development of social capital. These two aspects, the survey process on one hand, and social capital on the other hand, have an interdependence, being marked by a people's history, civic culture and education.