SOCIAL CAPITAL ON FACEBOOK AS PERCEIVED BY LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of social networking websites (SNW) is raising several issues regarding the influence it has on the modern school. As many authors mentioned, the proliferation of social networks among university people is changing the educational processes. In order to find out how Facebook could support education, a social learning perspective is needed. In turn, this requires to measure the social capital and to analyze its educational potential. The aim of this research is to elaborate a theoretically grounded and empirically validated multi-dimensional model, measuring the social capital that is embedded in the Facebook networks of Lithuanian university students. This is a pilot research carried out between September and December, 2014. In this respect, the research limitation reveals itself; therefore, a wider theoretical and empirical research is necessary, analyzing the usage of Facebook in the university student population. The research is significant, because it is prepared and validated a multidimensional model of the bridging social capital as perceived by university students that are using Facebook. Key words: science education, Facebook, multidimensional model, social capital, university students.