This study examines the complexity of measuring social capital and presents the Barometer of Social Capital (BARCAS) as a comprehensive research methodology to do so. The BARCAS is a multilevel, multi-setting, multivariate, and cross-national instrument developed in Colombia and applied four times over two decades, in 1997, 2005, 2011, and 2017. Throughout each of the four measurements, a variety of methods were used to improve the explained variance of the model and disaggregate dimensions into variables and items to determine their contribution to a factor’s average change. The learning and refining processes undertaken to improve the BARCAS are described in detail. Ultimately, the 2017 iteration of the BARCAS presents us with four factors that make up social capital and explain 76% of the variance: Social Fabric, Civic Capital, Institutional Trust and Indirect Control of the State, and Faith in Unvalidated Sources of Information. Factor analysis of dimensions differentiated the factors and produced factor scores or dependent variables for each respondent. The surprising volatility of the factors’ composition and levels over time indicates that the current research strategy of piecemeal hypothesis testing should be complemented by a more clinical approach, given the wide variety of intervening elements present at any given place and time. Further research could uncover whether BARCAS dimensions and factors are universal to all societies. It is hoped that the lessons learned with the BARCAS can be used by other researchers in similar endeavors.
