Factors Affecting the Participation of Members in Agriculture Producing Cooperatives (A Case Study of Tehran Province)

The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting participation in the governing the affairs of cooperatives in 2010. The research was descriptive-correlative and carried out by survey method. The statistical population included 498 managers of agriculturalcooperatives of Tehran province from which a number of 72 were selected using random sampling method with proportional assignment. Validity of questionnaires used to collect data was verified by consulting the professors of the Faculty of Agriculture Economy & Development, University of Tehran and experts in the Ministry of Cooperation andnecessary corrections were made. Reliability of participation rate of members in governing cooperatives was verified by Cronbach alpha coefficient (0.72). Descriptive statistical results showed from the manager’s point of view participation of members in governing the cooperatives stands at high levels. Correlation analysis results showed that between utilization of information sources and channels of communication, attitude towards cooperatives and cooperative sector, the entrepreneurial characteristics and efficiency of the managers with participation of members in governing the cooperatives there issignificant positive relationship. Based on results of regression analysis, the two variables of manager’s efficiency & utilization of information sources and channels of communication constitute approximately 54% of variations in the dependant variables.