چكيده لاتين :
Information and communication technology (ICT) is now one of the criteria for
measuring the economic and industrial development, in a way that it has had
significant effects on different aspects of socio-cultural, economic and political life
of people and human communities. In this study, the authors have tried to
investigate the economic, social and physical effects of ICT centers on rural
development in Gorgan as a leading zone in construction of rural ICT centers in
Iran. For this purpose, at first step, they assessed the level of rural population access
to ICT and the way they could benefit from it. Then the effects of ICT centers on
rural development were examined in two main groups of villages: those which had
Methodology
This study was carried out using the descriptive-analytical method. Some parts of
the data were collected through field study and questionnaires and interviews. Other
parts of the data, for example, data needed for theoretical and conceptual framework,
documents and census were collected through library research. To estimate the
number of participants, Cochrane sampling formula was used with a confidence
level of 70% and error level of 55 %. The sampling was carried out in simple
random method. In this study three groups were questioned or interviewed: 1. the
inhabitants of the villages (husbandmen) 2. Heads of self-reliant rural management
(Dehyari) and members of Islamic council of the villages; 3.The experts and
specialist employed in the ICT centers of the Golestan province and Gorgan
Township.
To compare some of the parameters of the villages, in this study they were divided
into two groups:
) Villages in which ICT has proven successful. There were a total number of 67
villages in which ICT was successful; considering the probability coefficient of
20 percent and population groups, 14 villages were selected randomly.
According to Cochrane sampling, the sample size tuned out to be 276
participants (husbandmen which were chosen in simple random order and
questioned).
) Villages lacking ICT centers. Considering the probability coefficient of 20
percent and population groups, 6 villages were selected randomly. According to
Cochrane sampling, the sample size tuned out to be 60 participants
(husbandmen) which were chosen in simple random order and questioned.
Having collected and processed the data in ArcGis, SPSS etc. the authors
turned to data analysis and exploitation.
The following hypotheses were proposed to account for the study questions:
It seems that rural ICT centers increase rural participation, hygiene, welfare, and
decrease migration, and also decreasing the information gap between rural and
urban areas.
It seems that rural ICT centers pave the way for rural development, increasing
products, improvement of marketing for the rural product and rise in
employment rate in rural areas.
It seems that rural ICT centers have changed the patterns of housing, rural
communication and way of life.
Results and Discussion
Efficiency coefficient of ICT in economic, social and physical aspects of Gorgan
villages in two groups of having and lacking ICT collected in questionnaires shows
that the average of the economic aspect of 4.44, average social aspect of 4.87 and
average physical aspect of 4.43. These indexes are well indicating that ICT has had
significant and positive effects on villagers’ way of life. While in villages lacking
ICT, in view of the average villagers, the average of the economic aspect was 2.42,
average social aspect was 2.28 and average physical aspect was 2.33, which shows
the significant effects of ICT centers in rural development. In villages having ICT
centers, in all the variables, weight mean was higher than 4 and close to 5, which
indicates that villages having ICT had favorable conditions in the variables (of
participation, level of hygiene, migration, information gap, rural development,
product increase, marketing, employment rate, housing pattern, the way of life and
communication) which all prove the positive effects of ICT in the villages. While in
the villages lacking ICT centers, all the variables had an average between 2 and 3,
which shows that villages without ICT were in poor conditions in the variables
examined.
Conclusion and Remarks
Information and communication technology have created new opportunities for
different communities. The sooner, these opportunities are created, the faster the
communities can accelerate structural progress and cover up imperfections and
deficiencies. In the Gorgan Township in Iran, ICT has significantly progressed.
At the end, the authors tested the hypothesis of the study, and it turned out that:
1. In villages having ICT, the weight median of (4.87) ICT effect on the social
aspects shows that this parameter had considerable effects on rural development in
the villages of the study area; while in the villages lacking ICT, the villagers’ view
does not confirm its effect on the social aspects of their life. As a result, the authorsʹ
first hypothesis suggesting that “rural ICT centers increase the rural participation
and hygiene and decrease migration and knowledge gap between rural and urban
areas”, has been confirmed.
2. In the villages having rural ICT centers, the weight median of ICT effect
(4.44) on the economic aspects confirms the effect of this parameter on rural
development, while in villages lacking ICT, the villagers’ view does not confirm its
effect on the economic aspects of villagers’ life. Therefore, the authorsʹ second
hypothesis suggesting that “ICT centers pave the way for rural development,
increase in products, improvement of marketing for the rural product and rise in
employment rate in rural areas” has been confirmed.
3. In the villages having rural ICT centers, the weight median of ICT effect
(4.43) on the physical aspects confirms the effect of this parameter on rural
development, while in villages lacking ICT, the villagers’ view does not confirm its
effect on the physical aspects of villagers’ life. Therefore, the authorsʹ third
hypothesis suggesting that “rural ICT centers has changed the patterns of housing,
rural communication and way of life” has been confirmed.
Considering the study results, the authors propose that operational procedures
such as public administrative services be provided in rural ICT centers which would
facilitate the communication between local rural managers and administrative
organizations through the facilities provided in rural ICT centers.
