Lammert, Jill D.2010-10-29NO_RESTRIC2010-10-292010-10-29https://hdl.handle.net/1920/5998Using confirmatory factor analysis in the framework of SEM to analyze data collected in 2005 in 864 rural households in the Northeast region of Brazil, this study provides evidence in support of the existence of a latent construct of general social capital and four latent dimensions of social capital (information and communication, collective action and cooperation, trust and solidarity, and social cohesion and inclusion). The study then utilizes a series of structural regression models to examine the relationships among social capital, having completed implementation of a community-driven development (CDD) subproject, and selected indicators of education in participating households. The study concludes with a discussion of the results and presents implications for the field of education.enSocietal capitalStructural equation modellingCommunity-driven developmentConstruct validationEducationDissertation