Community Participation in Development Planning in Siantar Martoba, District in Pematangsiantar City, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia: Econometric Questionnaire Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of internal and external factors on community participation in the District-Level Development Planning Forum (Musrenbangcam) in Siantar Martoba, Pematangsiantar, Indonesia. Using a quantitative method with 240 respondents from seven administrative villages (kelurahan), data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Only 18.3% of respondents attended the latest Musrenbangcam, and fewer than 10% submitted a formal development proposal. Internal factors such as education (p = 0.036), gender (p = 0.045), occupation (p = 0.037), and income (p = 0.036) significantly influenced participation. External factors—leadership quality (p = 0.026), government communication (p = 0.033), and logistical support (p = 0.032)—also showed statistically significant associations. These findings highlight the importance of aligning institutional responsiveness with citizen capacities to foster inclusive and effective participatory planning. The study recommends decentralized forums, inclusive communication, and leadership training to improve local development engagement.