Participation and Democracy: Dynamics, Causes ... - Jacobs University

Model 3:
β 1j = γ 10 + γ 11 (Membership level) + γ 12 (Level of informal networks) + γ 13 (Trust level)
+ u 1j .
β 2j = γ 20 + γ 21 (Membership level) + γ 22 (Level of informal networks) + γ 23 (Trust level)
+ u 2j .
β 3j = γ 30 + γ 31 (Membership level) + γ 32 (Level of informal networks) + γ 33 (Trust level)
+ u 3j .
γ 10 , γ 20 and γ 30 are the intercepts for the respective membership, informal networks and
trust slopes. γ 11 , γ 12 and γ 13 are the effects of the level-2 factors membership level, level
of informal networks, and trust level in a society on individual membership in a voluntary
association. γ 21 , γ 22 and γ 23 are the effects of the same level-2 factors on individual
embeddedness in informal networks, γ 31 , γ 32 and γ 33 represent the level-2 effects on trust.
After introducing the model equations, Table 6-5 presents the results of the multi-level
model. For an easier interpretation, odds ratios (instead of log odds coefficients) are
documented. The data entries show how the odds ratios are changing when a one-unit
increase in the independent variable occurs (odds with increase compared to odds without
an increase in the predictor). Does social capital as an individual or as a societal attribute
(or as an interplay of both) make people participate in elite-challenging activities? 56
The results in Table 7-5 are straightforward. All three social-capital related, individuallevel
predictors in Model 1 have a positive and significant effect on participation in elitechallenging
activities. Members in voluntary associations join demonstrations, petitions,
and activities of political consumerism twice as often as nonmembers. Compared to
membership, the other social capital characteristics, embeddedness in informal networks
and trust, do not play such an important role. Contrasting the lowest with the highest
possible trust score (21-point scale), for example, the odds ratio to participate in elitechallenging
activities improves not even by factor two (1.8). Looking at the sociodemographic
control factors, females are slightly more likely to take part in elitechallenging
activities than men (1.2). Participation decreases with age, and, corroborating
several participation studies, the level of education has a positive effect on people’s
56 For the detailed stepwise multi-level model (HGLM) please see Appendix A7-5.
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