The Determinants of Social Participation of Rural People in Menoufia Governorate

This study aimed basi-cally at identifying and analyzeing the types of social participation of rural people at Menoufia governorate, and identifying the most important correlates and determinants of social participation types. Data were collected from a random sample of 200 respondents, in two villages at Menoufia governorate through personal interviews with respondents. The  study  was  carried  out  in  two  villages in El-Shohadaa district at Menoufia  governorate,  the first  village  was  Sahel El-Gawaber  and  the second  village  was Kafer El-Swalmya, 100 respondents were selected randomly from each village. Data were collected through personal interviews with respondents. The simple correlation Coefficients, multiple correlation and regression (step-wise) analysis, percentages, range, mean, standard deviation, reliability estimate, and F-test were used to analyze the data with SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The most important findings of the study were:
1-The majority of rural people have a low participation degree in both social organizations and environmental activities, while the majority of them have a medium participation degree in both developmental projects, informal social activities and opinion participation. In general, 38.5% from respondents have a low degree of social participation, while 51.5% of them have a medium degree.
2- The findings of step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that:
- The most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s participation in social organizations, respectively, were geographical cosmoplitnes, cultural cosmoplitness, attitudes towardes voluntary participation, attitudes towardes environment, Animal and poultry possession and trust in governmental agencies. These six significant independent variables explained only 24.5% of the total variance of the rural people’s participation degree in social organizations.
- The most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s participation in informal social activities, respectively, were cultural cosmoplitness, visiting of service centers, trust in governmental agencies and monthly income. These four significant independent variables explained only 29.4% of the total variance of the rural people’s participation degree in informal social activities.
- The most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s participation in opinion, respectively, were trust in governmental agencies, visiting of service centers, satisfaction about  the local community and standard of living. These four significant independent variables explained only 15.1% of the total variance of the rural people’s participation degree in opinion.
- The most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s participation in developmental projects, respectively, were visiting of service centers, trust in governmental agencies, benefit from the development projects, and standard of living. These four significant independent variables explained only 21% of the total variance of the rural people’s participation degree in in developmental projects.
- The most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s participation in environmental activities, respectively, were trust in governmental agencies, visiting of service centers, monthly income, family size and geographical cosmoplitness. These five significant independent variables explained only 31.5 % of the total variance of the rural people’s participation degree in environmental activities.
- In general, the most important variables affecting degree of rural people’s social participation, respectively, were trust in governmental agencies, visiting of service centers, cultural cosmoplitness, monthly income and geographical cosmoplitness. These five significant independent variables explained only 41.5 % of the total variance of degree of the rural people’s social participation.
Finally, some recommendations were suggested.