Measuring digital capital in Italy

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Digital Sociology
• Information Inequality

Background:

• Digital capital, defined as individual digital access and competences, is a key factor in digital inequality.
• Previous research validated its measurement in the UK, necessitating cross-contextual validation.
• Understanding digital capital is crucial for developing effective digital inclusion strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically and empirically investigate digital capital in the Italian context.
• To test the construct validity of a digital capital measurement model in Italy.
• To establish digital capital as a measurable, independent individual capital.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the DigiCapItaly research project, an online survey of a representative Italian sample (aged 18+).
• Employed a two-stage Principal Component Analysis to create a composite index for digital capital.
• Provided a methodological framework for operationalizing and assessing complex social science concepts.

Main Results:

• The operational definition and measurement of digital capital were validated in the Italian context.
• Digital capital was confirmed as a measurable, independent individual capital, analogous to its UK validation.
• The study demonstrated the cross-cultural applicability of the digital capital measurement model.

Conclusions:

• Digital capital is a robust and measurable concept applicable across different socio-cultural contexts, including Italy.
• The findings support the recognition of digital capital as an independent form of capital.
• This research contributes to refining and strengthening the measurement of digital capital for broader dissemination.