درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose - The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of improving the dimensions of social capital in the spatial evolution of rural settlements in Esfandagheh. Design/methodology/approach - This study is a quantitative survey conducted using questionnaires distributed among 400 households in 30 sample villages. Descriptive-analytical measures such as mean, variance, standard deviation, Kendall Tau-b correlation coefficient, and multiple regression were used to analyze social capital's status in the spatial evolution of rural settlements in the study area. Findings - The findings revealed that the six dimensions of social capital, including social awareness, social organizations and groups, social networks and relations, social participation, social cohesion, and social trust have a positive and significant relationship with the dimensions of the spatial evolution of rural settlements. Moreover, there is a positive and significant relationship between social capital and spatial development dimensions in the studied villages' four environmental-ecological, social, economic, and physical-infrastructural dimensions. Also, social awareness, social participation, social cohesion, social trust, social networks and relations, and social organizations and groups with a variance of 0.433% were explained as predictors of spatial changes in the Esfandagheh rural district. Research limitations/implications - The variable of social capital plays an essential role in the spatial transformation of rural settlements because improving the dimensions of spatial transformation regardless of the dimensions of social capital faces a crucial challenge. In other words, social capital is influential in various areas of life, from the local and micro-level to the national and macro-level; it can empower the villagers in dealing with the socio-economic problems of their village. Practical implications - Paying attention to the dimensions of social capital in terms of approaches and planning and policy-making system of rural development and subsequently emphasizing the status of social capital as one of the most important intangible assets to improve the spatial evolution of rural settlements. Originality/Value - This study investigated the effects of all dimensions of social capital on all four dimensions of geographical space. In such a way, the attention of policymakers and development planners to the outcome of this research provides a more effective planning ground for developing the rural space based on people's views and the conditions of each region.

Purpose - The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the second homes on the physical and economic development of rural settlements in Hendeh Khaleh Rural District of Someh Sara County. Design/methodology/approach- The research method was descriptive-analytical. The main part of the data was obtained by a survey and interviews. The statistical population of this study is the villages of Hendeh Khaleh Rural District. Based on the estimation of the sample size using Cochran's formula, the sample size was detemined to be 385 of the heads of households. The independent variable (second home tourism) and the dependent variables (physical and economic development of rural settlements) for Hendeh Khaleh Rural District were analyzed in SPSS software. Findings - The findings of statistical tests show that second homes have caused physical and economic changes in Hendeh Khaleh Rural District. Second home tourism had influenced physical components, especially the indicators of “improvement of facilities and amenities”, and “increasing the construction”. The villages of Sofiandeh, Hendeh Khaleh, Now Khaleh Jafari and Akbari, Siah Darvishan, Lakesar had the highest number of built villas. The villages of Sheykhmahale, Kishestan, Lakesar, and Nargestan had the highest ranks in earning income from having houses to rent. The highest distance from the optimal limit regarding the physical components is for “increasing the construction” (1.89) and regarding the economic components is for “earning income from having the house to rent” (1.83). Practical implications - Providing a comprehensive review of all related literature, this study may help the researchers in choosing the appropriate method for planning the development of second home tourism as a strategy of development policies. Originality/value- This resaerch is the first study conducted about the impact of the second homes on the physical expansion in Hendeh Khaleh Rural District, which examined the relationship between the creation of the second homes and physical and economic development together.