Experimental measurement and comparison of social capital between members and non-members farmers of production cooperative

Context and purpose:

  One of the important issues in the agricultural production cooperatives sustainability is its role in creating and strengthening social capital. The pourpose was to measure and compare social capital between members and non-members farmers of production cooperatives.

The research was applied and quasi-experimental. The statistical population consisted of 460 farmers of Araz 1 and 2 production cooperatives (as experimental group) and Qiqaj Plain (as control group) in the the margin of Aras River in Poldasht Township. According to Krejcie and Morgan table and using proportional stratified random sampling, 142 and 68 people from the experimental group and control group were selected respectively. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by university faculty members and its reliability by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.73 to 85).

Overall, the extent of social capital was lower than average. According to Mann-Whitney test, the rank average of social capital and components of social trust, trust in government institutions, participation and relationships network were significantly lower among production cooperative members than non-members. However, no significant difference was observed between the components of social cohesion and trust in civic institutions between these two groups. Therefore, these production cooperatives have been established by the government in a top-down manner, which has caused the destruction of rural subculture and reduce social trust.

Previous studies have investigated social capital only form members viewpoint. Therefore, the use of experimental research method provides useful results for establishing and management of cooperatives.