Organizational Membership versus Informal Interaction: Contributions to Skills and Perceptions that Build Social Capital
Abstract
Participation in formal organizations has been considered a marker of social capital, but informal interactions may also provide social-capital relevant benefits. The current studies (N = 252 undergraduates; 60 adult members of a service organization) assessed skills, outcomes, and social-structural perceptions that may be developed from organizational or informal participation. Results suggested that organizations serve as potential training grounds for diverse types of civic participation; individuals hone their leadership and public speaking skills within the structures provided by organized groups. On the other hand, informal interaction also contributed importantly to social capital formation by fostering negotiating skill, the sharing of opinions, and companionship, and by creating networks of mutual obligation.
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Affiliated students tend to have a greater sense of connection to their campuses and exhibit greater leadership skills.
“Affiliated students tend to have a greater sense of connection to their campuses and exhibit greater leadership skills.(Asel et al., 2009;Green & Brock, 2005;Gregory, 2003;Kelley, 2008;Long & Snowden, 2011;Martin et al., 2012).”
From Declining Participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life: a Comparison of Perceptions of Greek-lettered Organizations Between Affiliated and Non-affiliated Students (2025) · cites this paper as Green & Brock, 2005
Involvement in fraternal organizations positively affects personal growth opportunities like leadership training.
“After researching fraternal organizations, Green and Brock (2005) determined that involvement in these groups positively affects personal growth opportunities like leadership training because fraternity and sorority members often become affiliated with multiple organizations that allow more exposure to leadership training.”
From Declining Participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life: a Comparison of Perceptions of Greek-lettered Organizations Between Affiliated and Non-affiliated Students (2025) · cites this paper as Green and Brock, 2005
Greek alumni are the most generous givers to their alma maters.
“Also, Greek alumni are the most generous givers to their alma maters (DeSantis, 2007;Green & Brock, 2005).”
From Declining Participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life: a Comparison of Perceptions of Greek-lettered Organizations Between Affiliated and Non-affiliated Students (2025) · cites this paper as Green & Brock, 2005
Fraternal membership increases exposure to diverse perspectives, which in turn leads to increased tolerance of individual differences.
“Researchers have indicated that fraternal membership increases exposure to diverse perspectives, which in turn leads to increased tolerance of individual differences (Green & Brock, 2005).”
From Declining Participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life: a Comparison of Perceptions of Greek-lettered Organizations Between Affiliated and Non-affiliated Students (2025) · cites this paper as Green & Brock, 2005
Engagement in civic activity positively correlates to students' educational persistence.
“This engagement has been shown to positively correlate to students' educational persistence (Green & Brock, 2005).”
From Declining Participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life: a Comparison of Perceptions of Greek-lettered Organizations Between Affiliated and Non-affiliated Students (2025) · cites this paper as Green & Brock, 2005
Cites
Social capital, income inequality, and mortality.
Kawachi, I., Kennedy, B. P., Lochner, K., & Prothrow-Stith, D. (1997) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.87.9.1491 · Cited by 3,212 · see citing works
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Ferreira, P. D., Azevedo, C. N., & Menezes, I. (2012) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.09.004 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Shirley, Z. E. (2025) · University of North Texas Dissertation · doi:10.12794/metadc500187
- Authors
- Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- ORCID
- Green, Melanie C.
- Venue
- Political Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-02
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-25
- ISSN
- 0162-895X (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9221
- OpenAlex
- W2106926704
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 13.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Political Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Psychological Association
- Ohio State University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Capital and Networks
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
- Social Sciences › Education › Service-Learning and Community Engagement
- Keywords
- social capital, organizational membership, informal interaction, citizen participation, leadership skills, public speaking skills, social networks, mutual obligation
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