Dados is one of the most widely-read social sciences journals in Latin America. Created in 1966, it publishes innovative works, originating from academic research, by Brazilian and foreign authors. Edited by IESP-UERJ, it aims to reconcile scientific rigor and academic excellence with an emphasis on public debate based on the analysis of substantive issues of society and politics.
Dados vol. 43 n. 4 Rio de Janeiro 2000
Abstract
Interpersonal trust is a central concept in social capital theory and in the discussion of civic culture. Explanatory models of support for democracy, membership in associations, and civic involvement commonly include measures of interpersonal trust. Although central to the theoretical debate over civil society and democracy, this concept has been measured in very simplistic ways. The conflicting and contradictory results of recent studies may well stem from the lack of reliability in measurements of trust. This study, based on a unique data set that contains different measures of interpersonal trust and uses factor analysis, concludes that there are two dimensions of trust, one of which has been consistently ignored by previous studies.
Keywords: Interpersonal Trust, Social Capital, Civic Culture
DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52582000000400007
On the measurement of interpersonal trust: a multidimensional concept