Measuring Digital Capital: An empirical investigation. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ragnedda, Massimo; Ruiu, Maria Laura; Addeo, Felice
• Is Part Of: New media & society. Volume 22:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 793
• Page End: 816
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Digital Capital -- digital divide -- digital inclusion -- digital inequalities -- exploratory factor analysis; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Internet -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.2305
• DOI: 10.1177/1461444819869604
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-4448

Abstract

This article develops a Digital Capital Index by adopting the definition provided by Ragnedda, who defines Digital Capital as the accumulation of digital competencies and digital technologies, and the model for measuring it developed by Ragnedda and Ruiu. It aims to develop a measure that can be replicated for comparison in different contexts. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically to the literature by (a) consolidating the concept of Digital Capital as a specific capital and (b) empirically measuring it. A Digital Capital Index is developed through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and validated with a representative sample survey of 868 UK citizens. The validation procedure shows that the Digital Capital Index is associated with socioeconomic and sociodemographic patterns, such as age, income, educational level and place of residence, while it appears not to be related to gender.