Evaluating the Public Participation Processes in Community Regeneration Using the EPST Model: A Case Study in Nanjing, China

• Published in: Land (Basel) 2022-09, Vol.11 (9), p.1405
• Main Authors: Sun, Shijie, Chen, Ru, Qin, Siyuan, Liu, Lufan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Citizen participation; Community involvement; Community participation; community regeneration; Cooperation; Customer satisfaction; Decision making; Developing countries; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Empirical analysis; Environmental aspects; EPST model; LDCs; Local government; Multivariate statistical analysis; Neighborhoods; process evaluation; Public participation; public satisfaction; Structural equation modeling; structural equation modeling (SEM); Urban planning; Urban regeneration; Urban renewal; Urbanization
• ISSN: 2073-445X; 2073-445X
• DOI: 10.3390/land11091405

Public participation is increasingly becoming a necessary content in community regeneration in China, though there is a lack of evaluation of the public participation process. This study explores a method for evaluating the public participation process, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of public participation. Based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and using the analysis method of structural equation modeling, this study has preliminarily established the evaluation model of public participation processes represented by “Expectation–Perception–Satisfaction–Trust (EPST)”, while taking a case study in Nanjing for empirical study. The results show that to improve general satisfaction and public trust in those activities participated in, it is necessary to upgrade public expectation and the public perceived quality at the same time. This study believes that the entire investigation and understanding of public demands before regeneration is the premise to improving the regeneration effect. For community regeneration in Chinese cities, the key is to mobilize public participation, while a detailed understanding of residents’ needs for community environment and community services is an important part of enhancing the effectiveness of regeneration. This study believes that in community regeneration, actively organizing various participation activities and giving full play to the role of local government and third-party organizations are conducive to enhancing the public’s satisfaction with regeneration.