The present study sets out to explore an apparent increase in participation in local organisations reported in the 2004 survey and to validate respondents' survey responses. The study assesses whether it is possible to design a new participation question which offers better value for money i.e. facilitates a similar level of understanding of the types of groups respondents are involved in and better captures their understanding of social participation, yet is sufficiently short to make it a viable option for local surveys. Building on primary longitudinal survey data from a previous study measuring social capital in South Yorkshire Coalfield communities, this study explores a number of methodological concerns related to the extent of participation in these communities. The aim is to devise a set of survey questions better matched to respondents' understanding of participation which elicit an accurate assessment of participation, and are designed to be efficient for effective use in other local surveys. The research approach involves factor analysis to explore relationships between responses to survey questions about participation in local groups. In-depth interviews to better understand activities residents are engaged in and to validate existing survey responses. Findings will inform methodological review of existing survey methods and may help to suggest a more appropriate set of questions.

In-depth interview (with respondents who took part in a previous longitudinal survey of social capital in South Yorkshire communities) . Some respondents took part in a previous longitudinal survey measuring social capital in South Yorkshire coalfield communities. Conducted in 2000 and 2004 a sample of 3,771 interviews was achieved, with 1071 of these respondents interviewed at both waves. This ESRC study drew its qualitative respondents from longitudinal sample. Of the 1000 or so respondents who made up the longitudinal sample just over half (51 per cent) were over 55 and 68 per cent were female. Respondents were grouped into a number of categories which took into account age, sex and qualifications as well as their responses to the question on participation in local organisations in 2000 and 2004. Four groups of respondents were interviewed. (No in 2000 and yes in 2004 - 11 interviews; Yes in 2000 and yes in 2004 -12 interviews; Yes in 2000 and no in 2004 - 9 interviews; No in 2000 and no in 2004 - 10 interviews)