The key to a community's quality of life may lie in civic involvement, according to massive new survey designed by a seminar at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG).

Building on the work of KSG professor Robert D. Putnam, the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, the largest of its kind to date, gathered data from 40 communities across the country to assess citizens' community involvement and their perceptions of community life.

Termed "social capital" by the researchers, the willingness of community members to trust, socialize and come together with their neighbors for voluntary activities is directly linked to happiness and satisfaction with community life. The importance of "social capital" exceeds that of community wealth or education level, according to survey sponsors.

A central issue addressed by the survey was the effect of the growing diversity of the American population on civic involvement.

According to the survey, members of diverse communities generally hold more tolerant attitudes and know more members of minority groups. However, such communities are also less likely to have high levels of voting, and members are less likely to know and trust their neighbors.

The survey also examined the effect of religion on civic involvement. According to the survey data, religious activity is an indicator of higher levels of civic participation, and has "some matchless strengths as sources of civic engagement," Putnam said in a statement.

The survey also revealed a socioeconomic gap in community involvement and participation.

"Americans lacking access to financial and human capital also lack access to social connections," Putnam said. "This lack of connections exacerbates the burden for Americans struggling to advance economically."