Aims: Nowadays, cities engage in a competition to showcase their innovative approaches within financial frameworks. The objective of this research endeavor was to employ the technique of structural equation modeling to validate a conceptual framework pertaining to social participation in the establishment of creative districts within urban settings.
Methodology: The methodology employed for this study involved conducting applied research within District 11 of the Tehran Municipality during the year 2023. The selection of the statistical population was based on the most recent population and housing census, resulting in a total of 308,176 individuals. By utilizing the Cochran formula, a sample size of 383.6 individuals was determined. After eliminating incomplete questionnaires, a total of 374 questionnaires from native residents of District 11 in Tehran were analyzed. Each neighborhood within District 11 made a contribution of 22 questionnaires. Spatial cluster sampling was implemented as the selected method of sampling. The collected data were subsequently subjected to structural equation modeling in order to ascertain the underlying causal relationships between the variables.
Findings: The results indicated a significant positive impact of involvement on social participation, as demonstrated by a path coefficient of 0.701. Moreover, several factors including the sustainability, depth, rate, and diversity of participation also displayed favorable and substantial effects on social participation, with corresponding path coefficients of 0.682, 0.226, 0.882, and 0.429. The increased level of social participation within the urban creative district played a pivotal role in promoting innovation, citizen engagement, quality of life, and the human capital of its residents.
Conclusion: In relation to the variables pertaining to social participation, it was observed that the variables associated with participation's influence exerted a more substantial impact, while the aspect of participation sustainability displayed a relatively weaker effect on social participation within the context of urban creative districts. Moreover, sub-indicators such as the failure to identify and attract talented individuals, the lack of cooperation and participation from diverse segments of society, contribute to the untapped potential and impede the growth of the urban creative district.