Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Communications -
Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Social Media, grade: 1,3,
University of Bamberg, language: English, abstract: This study raises an
understanding of social network relationships among students and
especially, how these ties affect the students' learning achievements
positively by creating social capital in designated networks. The thesis
investigates the concept and measurement of social capital in university
settings by applying a literature review. Thus, this study analyses the
present and past literature by a systematic literature search and
suggesting a model that connects students' backgrounds, social capital
at university and students' learning achievements. Finally, results are
presented and discussed, which show that all three dimensions of social
capital influence students learning achievements in higher educational
settings. However, not all specific components influence the different
variables in the same manner and some have no influence. Furthermore,
recommendations and directions for further research are provided. In
sum, the study finds that a student's social capital, generated from his
or her social relations with parents, teachers and other peers, has a
significant influence on the learning achievements.
