نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Abstract
Introduction
One of the fundamental dimensions of rural development planning is physical planning, which refers to the design, development, and management of the physical environment in accordance with proposed policies and guidelines. In essence, physical planning is a crucial component of rural development, as it seeks to create desirable spatial harmony among various human activities while enhancing the overall quality of life. Within this framework, one of the primary models of physical planning in Iran is the Rural Guidance (Hadi) Plan, which was introduced after the Islamic Revolution as a strategic instrument for rural development planning. In general, the objective of implementing these plans has been to provide a foundation for the revitalization of villages, to guide their development with consideration of physical and economic aspects, and to preserve rural populations while reducing out-migration. However, empirical evidence indicates that despite the considerable financial and non-financial investments, these plans have not succeeded in ensuring rural sustainability; rather, migration trends have continued in many villages. Moreover, the plans have largely failed in terms of spatial reorganization and physical restructuring and, more importantly, have not succeeded in gaining the satisfaction and participation of rural residents. Accordingly, this study aims to critically examine the underlying reasons for the limited success of Rural Guidance Plans—despite their high implementation costs—by analyzing the level of satisfaction among rural residents of the Edimi district in Nimroz County with their implementation.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted within the quantitative research paradigm, classified as applied research in terms of purpose, and non-experimental with respect to variable control, using a survey design. The statistical population consisted of all rural residents of the Edimi district in Nimroz County (N = 400). Based on Bartlett et al.’s (2001) sample size table, a sample of 200 respondents was determined. Sampling was carried out using a stratified random sampling method with proportional allocation (according to the villages of the district).
The data collection instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire designed in two sections. The first section focused on the demographic and occupational characteristics of the respondents, while the second section was aligned with the research objectives and consisted of three subscales: social (4 dimensions, 14 items), economic (4 dimensions, 17 items), and physical (5 dimensions, 29 items). A five-point Likert scale ranging from very low (1) to very high (5) was used to measure responses. The scale was ordinal, and its validity was confirmed through content validity and construct validity.
To ensure the reliability of the questionnaire, both Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR) were employed. CR values greater than 0.70 indicated sufficient control over measurement errors within the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. After completing the questionnaires, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS22 and Smart PLS3 software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, as elaborated in the subsequent sections.
Results and Discussion
The results derived from the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach indicate that economic (β = 0.745), physical (β = 0.638), and social (β = 0.594) factors exert positive and statistically significant effects on the satisfaction of rural residents in the Edimi district of Nimroz County with the implementation of Rural Guidance (Hadi) Plans. Overall, based on the Smart PLS 3 output, it can be concluded that approximately 56% of the variance in the dependent variable—namely, rural residents’ satisfaction with the implementation of these plans—is explained by the aforementioned independent variables (economic, physical, and social).
Conclusions
The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for evidence-based policymaking aimed at enhancing rural development programs and ensuring their success. Specifically, the results provide valuable insights for policy reform, improvement of implementation processes, and the enhancement of quality of life in rural areas, thereby offering practical guidance for planners and policymakers engaged in rural development initiatives.
کلیدواژهها English
