Analysis of the Trust Network among the Forest and Pasture Users of Ghaleh Shahin Watershed in Sarpol Zahab Township (Case Study: Naghareh Koub Village)

This study analyzed the trust network among the forest and pasture users of  Naghareh Koub village in Ghaleh Shahin watershed of Sarpol Zahab Township. Parallel mixed method was used for this study. The statistical population was forest and pasture users of Naghareh Koub village, Ghaleh Shahin watershed, Sarpol Zahab Township (534 people), who were randomly selected according to Karjesi and Morgan’s table (223 people). Then, using the whole network approach and the snowball technique, 39 users were selected. Structured interviews and network analysis questionnaire were used for collecting the data. The indices of density, size, transmission, ambidexterity, centrality and concepts of intersection points and structural holes were studied. The data were analyzed using UCINET and NetDraw, and SPSS software. The results showed that the level of trust among local users was an average level, and among the types of trust, communication trust and procedural trust were more than other types of trust, and the lowest type of trust was dispositional trust. In the trust network with low density, the stability of the network (reciprocity) is average and fewer people are connected through intermediaries (weak transmission); therefore, the balance of the network is weak and information circulation in the network is medium to low. The results confirmed the high percentage of concentration in internal links compared to external links. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively manage conflicts in this area by forming a balanced and stable network of trust and considering key actors.