Public Participation In Local Development: Ban Lung Community, Sachorakhe Subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

บทคัดย่อ

This study aims to: (1) examine the level of public participation in local development within the context of Ban Lung Community, Sachorakhe Subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province; (2) identify factors associated with public participation in local development within the same community; and (3) propose strategies to enhance public participation in local development. The study adopts a quantitative research methodology. The target population for the study was determined based on the following criteria: (1) individuals residing in Ban Lung Community, Sachorakhe Subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province; (2) individuals aged between 30 and 60 years; and (3) individuals holding community positions such as village headmen, assistant village headmen, assistant village headmen for security affairs, presidents and members of village health volunteer groups, community volunteers, caregivers, members of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) Council, subdistrict agricultural extension officers (soil doctors), members of the Village Fund, women’s groups, civil defense volunteers, and public school teachers.

The research instrument used was a questionnaire developed by the research team, comprising three sections: Section 1 – general demographic information of the respondents; Section 2 – questions related to participatory communication; and Section 3 – questions related to public participation in local development. Data collection was conducted from February to August 2024. Data analysis was performed using statistical software designed for public administration research, applying frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Research Findings

1. The overall level of public participation in local development in Ban Lung Community was found to be high (M = 4.17, S.D. = 0.68). When disaggregated by dimensions, the highest mean score was found in cooperation-building (M = 4.29, S.D. = 0.68), followed by empowerment of the public (M = 4.18, S.D. = 0.70), information dissemination (M = 4.17, S.D. = 0.80), consultation (M = 4.12, S.D. = 0.79), and participatory engagement (M = 4.10, S.D. = 0.77), respectively.
2. The factor of participatory communication was found to be significantly correlated with public participation in local development (r = 0.830), at the 0.01 level of statistical significance. When analyzed by dimension, the following correlations were identified: Sender: r = 0.796, Message content: r = 0.845, Communication channels: r = 0.838, Receiver: r = 0.876. These results indicate that all components of the communication process contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of public participation in local development.
3. Based on the findings, the research proposes strategic recommendations to enhance public participation in local development in Ban Lung Community, comprising: (1) strengthening the role of the sender; (2) improving the clarity and relevance of the message content; (3) diversifying and optimizing communication channels; and (4) promoting active engagement among receivers in the communication process.

These findings reinforce the significance of participatory communication as a vital mechanism for promoting civic engagement in local development efforts and ensuring inclusive governance at the community level.