FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY UNITY: A CASE STUDY OF COMMUNITY IN SAWAIJEEK SUBDISTRICT, MUEANG DISTRICT, BURIRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to 1. Study current situation of people’s unity in the community, 2. Study factors affecting the community unity, and 3. Propose guidelines for promoting the community unity. This study was the mixed research including of 2 methods: 1) quantitative research, collecting data from 295 villagers of Moo 14 and 17 of Sawaijeek Sub-district, Mueang District, Buriram Province, with a stratified sampling method by using questionnaires and analyzing quantitative data obtained by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis; and 2) qualitative research, collecting data by focus group discussion from 6 subjects selected by purposive sampling and analyzing qualitative data.

The results revealed that 1. People did activities together 1-2 times / month, they mostly participated in various welfare state projects; 2. Aspect of the perception of duty was the factor affecting the community’s unity the most with statistically significant level at 0.05 and could   explain at 83.10%; and 3. Training activities should be organized to educate and raise awareness about unity among people in the community. Including organizing various activities together, such as joining groups to create additional occupations, and should apply a guideline to promote community unity called the ALPAU Model.