Social Capital Theory: This theory looks at the networks, relationships, and resources that communities have that support cooperation and group efforts. It emphasizes how crucial social cohesiveness, reciprocity, and trust are to a community's ability to collaborate well. Gopi Chandra Upreti

I agree that social capital theory, as mentioned by Salmon Owidi, is a potentially useful lens for your topic. There are, as you will no doubt have discovered, also other theoretical musings around. I cannot recommend one over the other to you at this moment because it depends somewhat on your own predilections for methodology (e.g. qualitative vs quantitative) as well as the level of your planned analysis (one specific community or several i.e. country-wide). It may be worth your while to return to the modern "origins" of the idea of community participation in local planning espoused by WHO in the Alma Ata declaration (late 1970's) that energized interest and theorizing in this research area. The World Bank, as well as the OECD, also have excellent libraries of reports on experiments and experiences in many countries on the topic. You may find something that fits your own ideas about what happens, why and how and how to measure it. My own approach to studying this was based on Grounded Theory (e.g. Adele Clarke) in which I did my own theorizing based on the data I collected. This was not a quick option but I wanted to be able to factor in my own prior professional experience across several countries and cultures. As said, have a look around and start with something that feels right to you and your research goals.

Thank you Salmon and Lorinne for your valuable suggestion. I am also thinking to apply the social capital theory, in the mean time I found a frame ' A Ladder of Citizen Participation' adopted from Arnstein, 1969. It seems, it is relevant to link this ladder with my research problem; so this is theory or just a frame? Further I am also interested to link the critical perspective. So how to add critical perspective (theory).....

Thank you for your questions and your smart question, I need to develop my education status on animal nutrition related activity.

Hi Gopi, your question on difference between frame and theory is quite pertinent. In my "view", a frame refers to the overall "perspective" you hold about the world and thus the topic you are interested in. So, you might take a critical view of the "idea" (definition) of "citizen participation" and what it could mean. Then, if you think suitable, you could apply the theory of social capital to analyse (or seek explanations for) the data/ outcomes you observe. As I see things,views or frames are more about philosophy, while theories are more about explanations. Having said that, it is difficult to run a theory that is incompatible with your view. You'll need to read around to find the views you are comfortable with and then check out the theories they support. Generally, work on citizen participation rests on some sort of critical perspective but not all or always. Enjoy the research/reading.

Community Development Theory: This theory emphasizes empowering communities to take collective action to address their own needs and priorities. It provides a framework for understanding how to engage community members in planning processes in a way that promotes their empowerment and ownership.