URBAN STUDIES
Year:2016 | Volume:6 | Issue:19|Papers Count:7

This study aims to study social factors that influence the social participation of Khalkhali residents. What this study would like to highlight is the importance of different dimensions of social participation. The theoretical framework was provided using the ideas of Parsons, Lippset, Habermas, Lerner, and Rostow. This is a quantitative-survey research. The research population consisted of all those above 18 years of age who resided in the city of Khalkhal of whom 380 individuals were chosen as the sample using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. The SPSS software package and Amos Graphics were used to analyze the data. The results showed that independent variables like social support, a sense of citizenship, social trust, political trust, social alienation, group bonds, religiosity, mass media, group pressure, conformity, type of residence, and socio-economic status were significantly related to social participation. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that all comparative indices were above 0.90 which indicates that the model has been a good one.

This study aims to identify social factors that influence youths' premarital relations that may lead to a decline towards marriage. This is a quantitative- survey research. The research population consisted of all those between 20-24 and 45-49 years of age who resided in the city of Tehran of whom 384 individuals were chosen as the sample using a cluster-random sampling technique. The theoretical framework was provided using the ideas of Inglehardt, Habermas, Gerbner, Giddens, and Beck. The results showed that disinclination towards marriage was significantly related to friends' attitudes (r=0.64), gender equality (r=0.64), modernization (r=0.59), individualism (r=0.55), the family's attitudes (r=0.47), mass media usage (r= 0.41), having a materialist orientation (r=0.35), and extent of presence in virtual space (r=0.29). Regression analysis results showed that all the independent variables together could explain about 54 percent of the variance in the dependent variable, namely Urban Youths' Disinclination towards Marriage.

Life styles as the product of the socio-economic, institutional, political and cultural changes of the society, can be vulnerable to rapid social change. So, enhancing the resiliency of communities by using their capacity to adapt, can be a very important factor to reduce harm to them. This paper aims to assess the resilience and its relationship with lifestyle, using the survey method to collect information if the residents of Geytariyeh and Northern Shokufeh Neighborhoods. Morgan table was used to determine the size of the sample. 377 questionnaires were distributed in Geytariyeh neighborhood and 379 in the neighborhood of North Shokufeh. To analyze the relationship between lifestyle and resiliency, Pearson's test and regression analysis were used. The results indicate that, in general, because of different lifestyles in the two neighborhoods, resiliency or adaptability of the local community in Geytariyeh is more than that in Northern Shokufeh. Economic and institutional resiliency was higher in Geytariyeh district and social resiliency was higher in North Shokufeh neighborhood. Finally, it can be said that due the lower level of resiliency in North Shokufeh neighborhood, it is more vulnerable than the other neighborhood.

Altruism can be considered to be an urban issue since unanimity and being a stranger can be accentuate in urban areas. Thus, this study seeks to investigate the social factors affecting the inclination towards altruistic behaviors in situations which are frequently emergent. It aims to find which factors facilitate or hinder the assisting behavior. For this purpose, after making interviews with some residents, the theories upon the concepts of religiosity, social trust sense of anomie, urbanization, individualism, (un)pleasant past experiences, social responsibility and empathy were all reviewed and the research hypotheses were consequently extracted. The survey research method and interview along with a researcher-made questionnaire containing closed questions were used to collect needed data. The research population consisted of all the residents aged 18 or older who lived in the city of Harnadan, of which using the Cochran formula, 384 individuals were selected as the sample. The research findings demonstrated that the higher the level of urbanization, individualism and sense of anomie, the less is the inclination towards altruistic behaviors. In contrast, the higher the level of religiosity, social trust, previous pleasant experiences of assisting people. sense of social responsibility and empathy, the more also is inclination towards altruistic behaviors. The findings confirm the theoretical literature in this regard.

Numerous studies have shown that socially responsible citizens are essential for sustainable development and that they improve the quality of life of citizens. Thus, the study of social responsibility and factors influencing it and its mechanisms has become an established tradition in sociology. This paper investigates the socio-cultural factors that influence social responsibility among citizens of Tehran 4th district. Using the survey method, the data were gathered by distributing researcher-constructed questionnaires among 400 residents of Tehran who were chosen as the sample. Findings indicated that the mean average of social responsibility for all respondents was 57 on a scale from zero to hundred. Also, regression analysis suggested that social satisfaction (Beta=0.281), employment status (Beta=0.270), Citizens' awareness (Beta=0.240), religiosity (Beta=0.212), age of respondent (beta=0.194) and media effect (Beta=-0.110) respectively were significantly related to social responsibility of citizens. In general, regression analysis showed that these factors together could explain about 38 percent of the variance in social responsibility. The results are explained on the basis of Durkheim's theory of religion, Parson's theory of social commitment, theory of social exchange, Habermas's theory of citizenship as well as those of mass media theories.

Various forms of tourism are gaining increasing importance in terms of the number of visitors and the generation of income at the national, regional and international level. The development of socio-cultural tourism with an emphasis on ethnicity can positively affect the stability of ethnic customs. In multi ethnic societies, tourism can enhance solidarity, cohesion and provides opportunities to support the integration of ethnic boundaries and encourages constructive competition and cooperation among ethnic groups. Ethnicity can function as a tourist attraction and an appropriate strategy to create a more friendly relationship among groups, increase income and improve international exchanges with other communities. In this sense, it will further people's knowledge of themselves, others and of different countries. Therefore this research, having an analytical-applied approach, investigates the role of ethnic tourism in the development of tourism in Kermanshah City. The sample consisted of 384 tourists who visited the city of Kermanshah in 2015. In order to assess the role of ethnic attractions in the development of urban tourism the variables awareness, quality of life, satisfaction of tourists, the image of the destination, urban management and community involvement were used. The results showed that the variable ethnic attractions with a beta of (0.594) had the largest direct impact and community involvement with a Beta of (0.079) had the smallest impact on the development of ethnic tourism. Other variable betas were: urban management (0.388), image (0.238), quality of life (0.190), satisfaction of tourists (0.115) and awareness (0.199); have been influential in the development of ethnic tourism. The city of Kermanshah, despite having strong and deep-rooted cultural features including the Kurdish language, clothing and special clothing for men and women, folk music, songs and folk dances, crafts, etc., requires planning and efficient management to provide the infrastructure to attract domestic and international tourists.

Citizenship culture influences the norms of society and constitutes the bases of relations among the residents. A city that is rich in citizenship culture, enjoys the benefits of security and peace, and the residents are eager to participate in social affairs of the city, a kind of participation that reduces the costs of doing things and replaces smile for social restlessness and stress. Citizenship culture is not an identity that can be achieved in a short period of time, instead it needs a long period of social interaction among the residents to take form. Given the significance of the issue, the present study aims to examine the relationships between national and religious identities on the establishment of citizenship culture. The research population consisted of all those above 18 years of age who resided in the city of Kermanshah of whom 384 individuals were chosen as the sample. The SPSS software package and Amos Graphics were used to analyze the data. National identity was measured by using items such as political, geographic, historical, and cultural identities and religious identity was measured in its belief, rituals, and experiential dimensions. The results showed that a positive orientation towards both national and religious identities was significantly and positively related to citizenship culture.