EVALUATION OF SOCIAL CAPITAL PARTICIPATION AND URBAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY: DISTRICT NO.3 OF ZAHEDAN METROPOLIS

Despite of the fact that Participatory approach and attention to people as final users of the results of urban projects and planning , is the issue considered by authorities of urban planning , but the item of social capital has been mostly forgotten. However, the main issue and question of this research is that what is the social capital, the effective factors on its decrease or increase, indices, criteria and clearly its participatory dimension and the role and effect of this dimension of social capital on the urban sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the citizens’ participation as one of the main dimensions of social capital. The research method was descriptive - analytical and questionnaires have been used to gather the required information. The required sample size was determined 320 based on Cochran formula, The questionnaires were distributed in district No.3 of Zahedan and after completing and integrating with documentary findings of documents, was analyzed using statistical software of Spss18 and single variable T-Test . Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results of this study suggests that the citizens of district No.3 of Zahedan metropolis are at a good condition and above the average level from the view point of participation in urban affairs. Thus, the executive and administrative authorities of the city can use the potential and talent of citizens through a careful and regular planning and implement it for improving the quality of urban functions and life of citizens more than before.