Political Participation of the People in Nong Methee Subdistrict, Tha Tum District, Surin Province

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) examine the level of political participation among citizens, (2) compare participation levels across personal factors, and (3) propose guidelines for strengthening political participation in Nong Methee Subdistrict, Tha Tum District, Surin Province. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with quantitative data collected from 369 respondents using Taro Yamane’s (1973) formula and qualitative data obtained from 15 key informants. The questionnaire was validated by experts (IOC = 0.67–1.00) and showed high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.973). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results revealed that the overall level of political participation was high ( = 3.66, S.D. = 0.649), with voting participation ranked highest, followed by political information awareness, while political expression, participation in political activities, and monitoring governmental performance remained at moderate levels. Comparative analysis indicated no significant differences by gender in each dimension, although a significant difference was found in the overall level. In contrast, age, education, occupation, and income showed statistically significant differences. Qualitative findings suggested key development guidelines, including expanding accessible communication channels, creating safe public forums for civic expression, organizing continuous political activities, promoting awareness of voting rights, and enhancing transparency to strengthen citizens’ monitoring roles.