Public participation in community development of phon charoen subdistrict municipality, phon charoen district, bueng kan province

Abstract

           This research aimed to: 1) examine the level of public participation in community development of Phon Charoen Subdistrict Municipality; 2) compare the levels of public participation in community development of Phon Charoen Subdistrict Municipality; and 3) propose guidelines for enhancing public participation in community development of Phon Charoen Subdistrict Municipality. The sample consisted of 382 residents aged 18 years and above living within the area of Phon Charoen Subdistrict Municipality. The research instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of three sections. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and inferential statistics, including the t-test and F-test. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.946.

            The results of the study revealed the following:

            1. Overall Public Participation Public participation in community development within the Phon Charoen Subdistrict Municipality, Phon Charoen District, Bueng Kan Province, was found to be at a high level. When examining specific aspects of participation, the highest average score was in participation in decision-making, followed by participation in implementation, while the lowest average score was in participation in evaluation.

          2. Comparative Analysis The comparison of public participation based on gender, age, educational level, occupation, and average monthly income showed that there were no statistically significant differences. In other words, citizens with different demographic and socio-economic backgrounds participated in community development at similar levels.

           3. Recommendations for Improvement To enhance public participation in community development, it is recommended that public forums be organized at the village, community, and subdistrict levels. These forums should provide opportunities for citizens to express their opinions, identify problems and needs, and propose development strategies.