Abstract:
This study was a case study of a network of lsarn Community Schools and a Network of Buriram People Development Club. The purposes were to 1) study the factors that empowered the communities, 2) study the joint factors and different factors of strong communities, 3) study the elements indicating the strength of communities, and 4) study the results of prediction about factors influencing on the strong of the communities. The purposive sampling was done to the members of lsarn Community Schools Network and Buriram People Development Club Network, and the quota sampling was conducted to leaders, board of committee. And members of school network, and club network. The research instrument for collecting quality and quality data was a structured interview. The interview was divided into 3 parts including the general condition of the samples, factors enhancing the communities strength, and the elements indicating the strength of the communities. The data was analyzed by basic statistical values such as percentage, mode, mean, and standard deviation. The t-test was employed to analyze the differences of the two independent groups means. For prediction result, the multiple regression analysis was utilized. The study found that : 1. The 5 factors contributed to community empowerment were social fundamental fund, leaders or local wisemen, supporting from inside and outside, organizations, participation of community, and how to enhance the strength of community. The average of this evaluation for all elements was at MORE level to MOST level, and every element was at GOOD level to EXCELLENT level. This was an outstanding point of groups or networks. 2. The 5 joint factors and different contributed to community empowerment were social fundamental fund, leaders or local wisemen, supporting from inside and outside organizations, participation of community, and how to enhance the strength of community. These elements were all statistical significant different. 3. The 4 elements indicating the strength of community were social characteristics, economic and job characteristics, cultural and festival characteristics, and natural resources and environmental characteristics. The average of this evaluation for all elements was at MORE level to MOST level, And every elements was at GOOD level to EXCELLENT level. This was a good opportunity of groups or networks. 4. The results of prediction about factors influencing on the strength of community were how to empower the strength of community influenced most on the strength of the community. The second influence was the supporting from inside and outside organizations, and the participation of community