Table_1_Measuring digital capital in Italy.DOCX

IntroductionThis paper aims to theoretically and empirically investigate the concept of digital capital in the Italian context. Digital Capital can be conceived as independent individual capital whose lack within a population can be a cause of digital inequality. Our paper draws from recent works that have measured the Digital Capital as a combination of digital access and digital competences, and have tested this operational definition through an online survey on a UK sample. The results of such research proved the construct validity of the operational definition, thus showing that Digital Capital could be empirically measured. However, a measurement model needs to be tested and validated over time and in different socio-cultural contexts in order to be refined and strengthened, and eventually disseminated on a large scale.
MethodThis is the reason why this paper will show the results of a funded research project (named DigiCapItaly) carried out to test the validity of the Digital Capital measure in a different country, i.e., Italy. The data were collected with an online survey using a representative sample (by age, gender and geographical area) of individuals living in Italy aged 18 years or more. The creation of a composite index to measure Digital Capital followed a two-stage Principal Component Analysis approach.
ResultsFirst, the paper provides a methodological framework for facing challenges and pitfalls in operationalizing and assessing a complex concept in social research. Secondly, results show that Digital Capital operational definition works in Italy as well as in the UK, thus legitimizing its recognition as an independent capital.

引言
本研究旨在从理论与实证双维度探究意大利语境下的数字资本（Digital Capital）概念。数字资本可被视为一种独立的个体资本，其在人群中的缺失可能会引发数字不平等问题。本研究借鉴了近期相关研究成果，这些研究将数字资本界定为数字接入与数字能力的综合，并通过针对英国样本的线上调查对这一操作化定义进行了检验。此类研究的结果证实了该操作化定义的结构效度，表明数字资本可通过实证方式进行测量。然而，测量模型需要在不同社会文化背景下随时间推移进行检验与验证，以实现优化与强化，并最终实现大规模推广应用。

研究方法
正因如此，本研究将展示一项名为DigiCapItaly的资助型研究项目的成果，该项目旨在检验数字资本测量工具在不同国家——即意大利——的效度。研究数据通过线上调查收集，样本涵盖意大利境内18岁及以上人群，并按照年龄、性别与地理区域进行了代表性抽样。本研究采用两阶段主成分分析（Principal Component Analysis）方法构建了用于测量数字资本的综合指数。

研究结果
首先，本研究为社会研究中操作化与评估复杂概念时面临的挑战与陷阱提供了一套方法论框架。其次，研究结果表明，数字资本的操作化定义在意大利与英国均适用，这进一步印证了其作为独立资本的合理性。