Non-Cognitive Skills as a Resource for Social Participation of the Population

Social participation of the population in formal and informal practices, practices of helping behavior aimed at the development of the territory and territorial community, acts as an intangible asset of its development. In addition to external factors, internal factors have a significant impact on the social activity of the population: values, attitudes, and motivation. In the article, the author uses the resource approach to identify those noncognitive skills, internal resources that are the core of the population’s activity. Based on the theoretical analysis of such categories of the resource approach as human potential, activity potential, the most significant noncognitive skills, and qualities that contribute to social participation, the following are identified: sociability, initiative, responsibility, creativity, and a tendency to self-development. The article provides an indicator model for measuring these qualities and its testing. Based on the results of a survey of the population of the city of Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast (quota sample by gender and age, a total of 668 residents over 18 years old were surveyed), using variance analysis, the author proves that the severity of these qualities statistically significantly affects the number of participation practices. Non-cognitive skills significantly predetermine involvement in the activities of public organizations. Creativity and initiative contribute to joining cultural and creative organizations, and leisure and entertainment organizations. Responsibility is a resource for involvement in the activities of parent committees at school and kindergarten. Informal participation is not strongly influenced by any particular quality; all predetermined activity is equal. Due to this, the conditionality of informal participation practices by them in aggregate is expressed more significantly than with formal participation. Respondents with clearly expressed qualities of initiative, responsibility, creativity, and sociability more often take part in community service at their place of residence, charity events, and work as volunteers. The influence of non-cognitive skills on helping behavior is most sensitive. Responsibility for solving problems in the immediate environment and sociability are significant. They predetermine activity in practices of helping with things, money, and job searches.