Relationship between Social Status of Members of Community Based Associations and Their Level of Participation in Development Projects in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the relationship between social status of members of Community Based Associations (CBAs) and their level of participation in development projects in Kwara state, Nigeria.  Two objectives were raised, and two hypotheses tested.  The study used survey as well as correlation research designs.  The population of the study was 15,000 members of 496 CBAs in Kwara State but only 1170 were selected as sample for the purpose of the study and 1008, respondents who completed the instrument adequately were used for the analysis.  The sample was selected using multi-stage sampling technique.  An instrument ‘tagged’ social status and participation questionnaire (SSPQ) was used to collect the data analysed.  The instrument was validated and tested for reliability using odd-even reliability technique.  A reliability coefficient of 0.761 obtained was found to be statistically significant at P<0.05. Multiple correlation analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.  All decisions were taken at probability level of 0.05.  The study found that the variables of social status explained 10.07 percent of the variation in the level of participation with level of education, age and social relation making significant contributions to the variation in the level of participation of members of CBAs in development project. The second finding was that the relationship between social status and level of participation was statistically significant at F (6,1001) = 20.076. Based on the findings recommendations were made.  Among others, it was recommended that community based association members should be provided with opportunities for them to further their education in order to be better informed to understand and contribute to discussion more intelligibly.

Keywords: Social Status, Community Based Associations, Participation, Development Projects, Kwara State