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Dissonance Among and Responses of Ban Sam Phak Nam Villagers in Phu Pha Man National Park, Northeastern Thailand
Thesis Abstract:
The study investigated the external pressure that contributed dissonant situation to Ban Sam Phak Nam villagers in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. It generally aimed to determine the effects of external pressures on the village household of Ban Sam Phak Nam. Specifically, it tried to (1) identify significant external pressures impinging on the residents of Ban Sam Phak Nam and contributing to their dissonant situation, (2) determine the degree of dissonance resulting from these external pressures, (3) identify some factors associated with the varying degrees of dissonance among the villagers to the dissonant situation and analyze the association of these responses to the degree of dissonance.
From 83 households of this village, 70 were randomly selected to constitute the respondents of this study. Data were collected through a combination of interview, field observations, farm visits, group discussions, and review of secondary data sources. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequencies, percentages, and ranges were used to analyze the independent and dependent variables while Spearman’s Rank Correlation analyses were done to determine the relationship of degree of dissonance and responses, and socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.
Majority of the respondents perceived a high degree of dissonance from overall elements identified as sources of external pressure. The overall disturbance created by
the thought of staying inside the national park was a main contributor to the degree of dissonance. With respect to the average degree of dissonance, the study reported five external pressures which had high level of dissonance: (a) lack of land tenure security, (b) non-recognition by the RFD foresters, (c) pressure of being suspected of destroying the forest inside the national park, (d) pressure to change land use system from monocropping to agroforestry or integrated farming system, and (e) anxiety over uncertainty of stay inside the national park. Two external pressures contributed moderate level of dissonance to the respondents, namely: lack of infrastructure support from the government, and negative attitude of outside village to the villagers.
Differences in the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics influenced the degree of dissonance. Age, educational attainment, and number of children were found to be influential in the degree of dissonance resulting from the negative attitude of outside village. Length and status of respondents’ stay in the village had significant relationship with the level of dissonance resulting from lack of security in land tenure and the pressures from changing land use. Size of landholding was related to the degree of dissonance arising from the pressure to change the land use system. The degree of dissonance resulting from anxiety over uncertainty of stay inside the national park was affected by age and size of landholding.
The relationships of responses and degree of dissonance were determined. The acceptance of village rule and regulations was negatively associated with the degree of dissonance from the lack of infrastructure support from government. Farm development and environmental conservation had a positive relationship with the degree of dissonance caused by the pressure of being suspected of destroying the forests.
As a result, external pressures exerted some influence on the villagers in Ban Sam Phak Nam and contributed to their dissonant situation. The degree of dissonance from overall external pressures was high and the villagers tried to reduce it by direct and indirect responses.