Abstract:
This research aims to 1) study the social , economic and political factors of the
community leaders , 2) study levels of participation of the community leaders , 3)compare the
factors related to the community leaders' participation , and 4) study the relationship of the
factors related to the community leaders' participation , which influences of the variables related
to the participation were controlled. The sample group drawn by multi-level sampling technique
consisted of 210 community leaders in Suphanburi area. Questionnaires and tests were used as
instruments for data collection. The data was analyzed with SPSS PC+. Statistical methods
employed were descriptive statistics , One-Way ANOVA, Pearson Product Moment Correlation
Coefficient, and ANCOVA.
Findings were summarized as follows:
1. Regarding social factors , it was indicated that the community leaders completed
secondary schools or vocational education. The longest period that they had resided in their
communities was 30 years. Regarding economic factors, the community leaders were farmers
with average household incomes between 5,001-10,000 baht per month , which was the highest
range. For political factors , the community leaders had been in the positions in their communities
for 1-5 year(s). Their political information awareness, and knowledge and understanding of
politics were at the highest level.
2. The community leaders participated in local administration of the Tambon
Administrative Organization overall , and participated in 5 activities: the public utility , public
health , education , social welfare and natural resources at a moderate level.
3. The comparison of the factors related to the community leaders' participation
showed that differences in education level , period of residing in the community , and awareness
in political information resulted in the difference in the community leaders' participation in local
administration of the Tambon Administrative Organization at a significance level of .05.
However , occupation , average monthly household incomes , period of holding the positions in
the community , and knowledge and understanding of local administration did not result in any
difference in their participation in local administration of the Tambon Administrative
Organization.
4. The study of the relationship of the factors related to the community leaders'
participation , which influences the variables related to the participation were controlled ,
indicated that awareness in political information , and knowledge and understanding of local
administration, were related to the community leaders' participation in local administration of the
Tambon Administrative Organization at a significance level of .05. Moreover , all the
independent variables affected the participation at an amount of 77.2 percent.