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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
This report discusses the current political and economic state of Thailand, particularly in the wake of the September 2006 coup that displaced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and has resulted in continuing instability. This report also discusses the ongoing U.S.-Thai relationship, despite different policies in such areas as human rights.
Cultural Influences on the ABC Implementation Under Thailand's Environment
This study examines the influences of culture on the implementation of a U.S.-based Activity-Based Costing (ABC) in three Thai organizations.
Competencies and In-Service Training of Functional Literacy Teachers in Northeastern Thailand
This study was designed to determine (a) the most important knowledge and skills for functional literacy teachers; (b) the most important competencies to be covered in in-service training; (c) whether there were any differences between the perceptions of functional literacy teachers, supervisors, and administrators in terms of needed competencies or areas of training; and (d) whether there were any differences in the perceptions of teachers, supervisors and administrators regarding the need for competencies and for training of functional literacy teachers based upon these variables: age, years of experience in formal and nonformal education, and training in the functional literacy program. It was found that teachers, supervisors, and administrators agreed that most competencies listed in the instrument were important. No significant difference was found in their perceptions of the importance of the competencies. A significant difference was found in the perceptions of the needs for training among these three groups.
Developing and Administering a Nonmetropolitan Teachers Education Program in Northeastern Thailand
The primary purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of the rural teachers preparation program in specific curriculum components, field experience and training, and preparation. A secondary purpose is to determine the need for these components and a limited evaluation of other delivery systems for rural teaching in eight nonmetropolitan teachers colleges in Northeast Thailand. The questionnaire of the Rural Education Association (REA) developed by Barbara Jean Jones was employed to collect data from a random sampling of 352 teachers college instructors and administrators and randomly selected 352 elementary school teachers and administrators. Analysis of data from 508 respondents, were analyzed by using the descriptive statistic and t-test, revealed that: (a) the REA model components were available and are essential for teachers preparation program at Thai teachers colleges in the Northeast, (b) public relations and educational technology including computer literacy components should be developed to meet the public need, (c) teachers college faculty members should receive special training for preparing students to teach in a rural environment, (d) teachers colleges should provide a teacher training site in the provinces, (e) teaching in a rural and an urban environment are significantly different, and (f) there is a need for a special preservice training for teaching in a rural environment.
Perceptions of Administrators and Faculty Members of a Faculty Development Plan
This study was a comparison of the perceptions of administrators and faculty members regarding the actual and expected role of selected components of a faculty development plan at Srinakharinwirot University-Phitsanulok, Thailand. The study also investigated whether the demographic classifications of administrators and faculty members were related to their perceptions regarding the actual and expected role of selected components of a faculty development plan. Forty-one administrators and sixty full-time faculty members completed the survey instrument. Statistical tests used to summarize and analyze the data included mean, standard deviation, t test, chi-square, and correlation ratio. The results and findings of this study showed that (a) there were no major differences between administrators and faculty members related to their perceptions of a faculty development plan; (b) faculty members perceptions of the actual and expected role of selected components of a faculty development plan were consistent to a greater degree than were the perceptions of administrators; (c) significant differences between the perceptions of administrators regarding the actual and expected role of selected components of a faculty development plan were found for only one item: study leaves; (d) there were significant differences between the perceptions of administrators and faculty members regarding the actual role of the following components of a faculty development plan: the Center for Faculty Development, upgrading faculty members, motivation, planning implementation and evaluation, informal enrichment program, and team teaching; (e) there were significant differences between the perceptions of administrators and faculty members regarding the expected role of the following components of a faculty development plan: the Center for Faculty Development, faculty morale, and academic exchange programs in cooperation with foreign organizations. Finally, significant differences among administrators' and faculty members' perceptions were correlated with demographic classifications of gender, age, experience at Phitsanulok campus, experience in other institutions, highest degree earned, faculty affiliation, personal …
Attitudes of Teachers Toward Women as School Administrators in Phisanulok Province Thailand
The problem with which this study is concerned is to determine the attitudes of teachers toward female public school administrators in the province of Phisanulok, Thailand. The purposes of this study are (a) to identify the attitudes of public school teachers on the elementary and secondary levels toward women in administrative positions; (b) to identify whether or not there are significant differences between the attitudes of men teachers toward women in public school administrative positions and the attitudes of women teachers toward women in public school administrative positions according to age, level of education, years of experience, marital status, and previous experience working for a woman administrator; and (c) to identify whether or not there are significant differences between the attitudes of elementary school teachers toward women in public school administrative positions and the attitudes of secondary school teachers toward women in public school administrative positions according to age, level of education, years of experience, marital status, and previous experience working for a woman administrator.
Institutional Goals, Congruence and Conflicts: A Comparison of the Perceptions of Faculty and Administrators in Two Open-University Systems in Thailand
This study is an investigation of the importance of present and preferred institutional goals as perceived by the faculties and administrators of two open university systems in Bangkok, Thailand. The purposes of the study are twofold. The first is to identify and analyze the similarities and differences of present and preferred goal priorities. The second is to determine differences and similarities for five institutional goal areas between the two systems and by administrator and faculty groups.
Perceptions and Expectations of Deans, Chairpersons and Faculty Members Regarding Leadership Behavior of Academic Department Chairpersons at Silpakorn University in Thailand
The problem with which this study is concerned is to compare the perceptions and expectations of the deans, chairpersons, and faculty members regarding the leadership behavior of academic department chairpersons at Silpakorn University in Thailand. The Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQ) was employed to assess the leadership behavior of the academic department chairpersons in terms of initiating structure and consideration. The populations included 6 deans, 31 chairpersons, and 255 faculty members who were employed at Silpakorn University during the 1982-1983 school year.
A Study of the Perceptions of the Role of Presidents in Teachers Colleges in Northeastern Thailand
The purpose for choosing this study was to compare the perceptions of the role of presidents in teachers colleges in Northeastern Thailand. The study groups included the presidents, the administrative staff, and the teaching faculty within these colleges.
A Study of Motivation to Work and Job Satisfaction of Student Activities Advisors at Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand
The problem with which this study is concerned is the motivation to work and the job satisfaction of faculty members who work both as full-time instructors and student activities advisors at eight campuses of Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand. In relationship to the respondent student activities advisors, the purposes of this study were (a) to study the perceived relationship between motivation to work and job satisfaction, (b) to compare perceptions of motivation to work and job satisfaction according to selected demographic variables, and (c) to determine whether or not these variables significantly contribute to the prediction of motivation to work and job satisfaction for the sample population. Two published survey instruments were used to collect the data. Both instruments were administered to 206 student activities advisors of Srinakharinwirot University; usable, completed questionnaires were returned by 191 (92,7%) respondents. The statistical treatments applied to the collected data for seven research hypotheses include the Kentall Tau correlation coefficient, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. The numerous data findings from this study appear to support several conclusions. Among these are that although the respondent faculty members who were also student activities advisors were modestly motivated to accept the additional advisory responsibilities, feelings of high job satisfaction were produced once they assumed their advisory roles. Furthermore, although some significant relationships were found among the variables, it would be difficult to predict which faculty members would be capable and successful student activities advisors based on sex, age, years of teaching experience, or marital status. As a result, therefore, no statistical model could be developed from the data obtained from this study that could be used to predict either motivation to work or job satisfaction for student activities advisors.
The National Defense College of Thailand and Its Alumni in the Context of Thai Politics
This study deals with the National Defense College of Thailand and its alumni, who are senior military and civil service officers of the government of Thailand. The study examines the proposition that the political attitudes of military and civil service officers in developing countries are likely to be similar and negative. The second proposition examined in this study is that the attitudes of government officials toward the people are likely to be similar and negative. The study also attempts to examine the official attitudes on the basis of cluster. Each of the three clusters consists of seven classes of the National Defense College. It is argued that the political contexts of each cluster were different and that these differences may result in the different attitudes of officials in each cluster. The study found that military and civil service officers in Thailand hold similar attitudes toward politics and that the attitudes are predominantly negative. Official attitudes were similarly negative. Attitudes toward politics vary, depending upon the time in which the officials were in government service. Officers who worked within the environment of the military government are the most distrustful of politics while officials who worked under a more relaxed, more democratic political system are not as distrustful of politics. Attitudes toward the people are not significantly different among officers from different political environments. It was found that the number of alumni of the National Defense College who were able to reach the three highest ministerial positions in the Thai government has declined over the years. These positions are minister, deputy minister, and undersecretary. One cause of this decline is the increasing politicization of the country or the decreasing role, activity, and involvement of the military in politics. The second cause is the relatively stable number oi the members of each class …
A Comparison of the Teaching of History in Teacher Colleges in the Metropolitan Region and Other Regions in Thailand
The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the teaching of history in teachers colleges in the Metropolitan region and other regions in Thailand. Variables examined in this study include the following: salary, teaching experience, degrees held, the number of graduate credit hours in history, the number of graduate credit hours in education, attendance at professional meetings, the number of publications, membership in professional organizations, the number of hours devoted to course preparations, teaching load, and teaching behaviors. The comparison is based on geographical location of the teachers colleges by region. The survey instrument, after intensive review and validation by selected faculty both in Thailand and the United States, was distributed to the 180 history instructors in the teachers colleges in the six major regions of Thailand. The total number of responses was 138, or 76.7 per cent. The statistical procedures used in the analyses of data include frequency and percentage of responses, a chi square test of independence, t test, the Yates* correction for continuity, and Fisher's Exact Probability Test (2-tailed). The data findings from this study indicate that there is a high degree of similarity between the respondents from the Metropolitan region and other regions' history instructors in Thai teachers colleges with respect to the majority of the criteria. Although some significant differences were found, it would be difficult to state that there is a difference between history instructors in the Metropolitan region and other regions groups. Recommendations are made for the history instruction programs in Thailand based on the responses from both groups and the information gathered from a review of the literature.
Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Members at Non-Metropolitan Teachers Colleges in Central Thailand
The Faculty Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction Scale developed by Olin R. Wood (1973) was employed in this study to determine what significant differences and level of faculty job satisfaction existed on each facet of job satisfaction and in overall job satisfaction among faculty members at non-metropolitan teachers colleges in central Thailand. The results of this study were compared with the findings of Vatthaisong (1982) in a similar study of faculty members at teachers colleges in northeast Thailand. The instrument consists of two parts: the first part includes seven demographic items, and the second part has 68 items and uses a six-point rating scale for ten facets of job satisfaction, including one-single item of overall satisfaction. A sample of 288 faculty members at non-metropolitan teachers colleges in central Thailand was randomly selected. A total of 253 faculty members or 87.85 percent of the sample participated in this study. Frequencies, percentages, means, one-way ANOVA, and two-way ANOVA were used for analyses. The level of significance was set at .05. The Scheffe method for post hoc comparison was adopted following one-way ANOVA.
The Differences in Perceived Needs Between Practicing Teachers and College Instructors Concerning Inservice Education Programs in Teachers Colleges in Thailand
The purpose of this study is to identify and compare the perceptions of practicing teachers and college instructors toward four components of inservice education programs: content, organization, format of presentation, and participant involvement in the teachers colleges in Thailand. The comparison is based on the demographic variables of sex, age, educational background, and teaching experience in the institution. The "In-Service Education Attitude Survey" by Yesuratnam, Basimalla at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois in 1982 was used to gather data for this study. It was distributed to a sample of 380 practicing teachers and college instructors in 19 randomly selected teachers colleges in Thailand; 368 usable instruments were returned (97.15%). The data were treated to produce numbers and percentages. The t tests for two independent samples were computed to determine any statistically significant differences between the respondent groups of practicing teachers and college instructors, and between the practicing elementary and secondary school teachers. The F tests were also utilized to determine any statistically significant differences among the variables of practicing teachers and college instructors.
A Study of the Organizational Climate of Elementary Schools in the Province of Sukhothai, Thailand
The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of determining the extent to which the elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand, reflect an open or closed organizational climate. This study has two purposes. The first is to identify the organizational climate of elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand, as measured by the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ). The second is to determine the differences between the organizational climate of elementary schools with enrollments of 300 students or less and elementary schools with enrollments of more than 300 students. The conclusions of the study indicated that the climate of the elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand tended to be more closed than open. Principals tend to perceive the climate of the school to be more open than do the teachers. Teachers in elementary schools with enrollments of 300 or less perceived the climate of the schools to be more open than do teachers in elementary schools with enrollments of more than 300 students. And when the school size increases the climate is more likely to be closed.
An Analysis of the Pupil Control Ideology of Principals and Teachers in Public Elementary Schools in the Province of Sukhothai, Thailand
The problem of this study was to determine the pupil control ideology—conceptualized as a continuum from custodialism to humanism—of principals and teachers in public elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand. The instrument, the Pupil Control Ideology Form (PCI Form), consists of twenty likert-type items. Responses to each statement are indicated on a five-point scale, ranging from "strongly agree" (five points) to "strongly disagree" (one point). Scores derived from the PCI Form were used as indicators of respondents' orientation toward the control of pupils in elementary schools of Sukhothai, Thailand. The reliability coefficient of the PCI Form yielded a Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of .91 and .95 when using the Spearman-Brown formula. The instrument (PCI Form) was translated into Thai, validated by six judges who were selected on the basis of their positions and knowledge of Thai education. The reliability of the revised questionnaire was determined by a pilot study (test-retest technique) which involved twentyteachers and ten principals of public schools in Sukhothai, Thailand. The results of the Pearson Product Moment Coefficient gave the correlation of .87 and .93 using the Spearman-Brown formula.
A Study of Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Members of Nursing Colleges in Thailand
The purpose of this study was to investigate job satisfaction among full-time faculty members of nursing colleges in Thailand, by using the Faculty Job Satisfaction /Dissatisfaction Scale developed by Olin R. Wood. The investigation was based on the ten factors of job satisfaction selected from the Herzberg Motivation-Hygiene theory as follows: achievement, growth, interpersonal relations, policy and administration, recognition, responsibility, salary, supervision, work itself, and working conditions. The questionnaire consisted of 68 items, using a six-point rating scale for ten factors of job satisfaction. The population consisted of 621 full-time nursing faculty members in twenty-one nursing colleges across the country of Thailand. A total of 408 nursing faculty members or 65.70 percent of the population participated in this study. Frequencies, percentage, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, regression analysis, and coefficience of concordance W. were used in the follow-up investigation, with the level of significance at .05.
Computer Literacy Levels and Attitudes toward Computers of Thai Public University Students
The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze computer literacy and general attitudes toward computers of students at Thai public unversities. The comparative study of computer literacy levels and attitudes toward computers among Thai students with various demographic classification was performed followed by the study of relationships between the two variables among the samples. A fifty-eight-item questionnaire was adapted from the computer literacy questionnaire developed by the researchers at the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium. The items were designed to assess knowledge and attitudes relative to computers. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 492 students who took at least one computer course from thirteen public universities in Thailand. Statistical tests used to analyze the data included t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson product moment correlations. Based on the research findings, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) Thai university students exhibited a moderate computer literacy level. (2) While a higher proportion of female students enrolled in computer classes, male and female students reported similar computer literacy levels. (3) Graduate students had higher computer literacy levels than did other students from different educational levels. (4) Academic majors and academic performance (GPAs) were also factors affecting computer literacy levels. Education majors displayed higher computer literacy levels than mathematics majors and science majors. (5) Students with higher GPAs had higher levels of computer literacy than the groups with lower GPAs. (6) Computer literacy was not age dependent. (7) Generally, Thai university students showed positive attitudes toward computers. (8) Males and females both showed positive attitudes toward computers. (9) Graduate students exhibited more positive attitudes toward computers than all other groups. (10) The groups of students with lower GPAs displayed lower positive attitudes toward computers. (11) There was a strong positive relationship between students' knowledge and their attitudes toward computers. …
Factors Affecting the Efficient Performance of the Thai State Railway Authority: a Time-Series Data Analysis
The Thai State Railway Authority (RSR) is a public enterprise in Thailand. As an organization its performance is subject to the argument of contingency theorists that operating efficiency is dependent upon various factors both in the internal and external environments of the enterprise. Most of the internal factors are those that organization theorists in the developed world have identified such as goals and objectives, resources, and organization structures. Meanwhile, external factors such as political, economic and social conditions of the society are regarded as indirect factors that have less importance than do the internal factors. Scholars of the developing world have argued that political, social and economic conditions in the society are as important as internal factors. These factors may have a very significant influence on the enterprises and on the society as a whole. Consequently, public enterprises in developing countries always encounter the same problem of operating inefficiency. The RSR is selected as a case study because of its advantages over the other public enterprises in Thailand in terms of size of operation, length of service, and data availability. For the purpose of this project, data are collected from 1960 to 1984 for longitudinal analysis. The methods of analysis are divided into two major sections: simple regression testing and multiple regression testing. The principal component technique is used in both testings to reduce variables to a smaller number for further analysis. The simple regression tests yielded mixed results, but the multiple regression tests resulted in significant relationships. The three new factors derived from the factor analysis technique were labeled as "the organizational pressures," "the socio-political downturn," and "the public criticisms." They explained 84% of all the variance of operating efficiency. The other 16% was the effect of other factors including the management skills, which were excluded from this analysis.
Thai High School Compute Literacy: A Content Analysis
This study examined the extent to which each computer literacy objective domain, each specific mode of instruction, and each type of question were treated in Thai high school computer literacy text materials. Two textbooks and their accompanying teachers' manuals were examined using three analytical schemes as frameworks for the examinations. The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) computer literacy objectives were used to classify the content in the text materials in order to determine the degree of emphasis on each computer literacy objective domain. The Hawaii state Department of Education (HSDE) instructional modes were used to classify the content in the text materials in order to determine the degree of emphasis on each mode of instruction. Bloom's taxonomy of education, cognitive domain, was used to classify the review questions and exercises in the text materials in order to determine the degree of emphasis on each cognitive level. Detailed findings are given as numerals, percentages, and decimal values. Perspectives are offered on the need for textbooks which reflect the values and feelings objectives. Conclusions were that (a) text materials focus most on the programming/algorithms objectives and tend to exclude the values and feelings objectives; (b) text materials use only three modes of instruction, focusing first on the topic mode, second on the tutee mode, and last on the tool mode; (c) text material questions focus more on higher cognitive than on lower cognitive levels.
A Description of the Secondary School Principalship as Perceived by Selected Principals and Teachers in Bangkok, Thailand
The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of describing the secondary school principalship as perceived by selected principals and teachers in Bangkok, Thailand. The purposes of this study are (1) to collect selected demographic data about the secondary school principals and teachers in government and private schools, and (2) to measure and determine the relative effectiveness of principals of government and private secondary schools in Bangkok, Thailand, as perceived by secondary school principals and teachers. The conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) principals in government and private secondary schools appear equivalent in professional preparation as measured by highest degree held, (2) principals in government and private secondary schools earn equivalent salaries, (3) teachers in private secondary schools have less professional preparation than teachers in government secondary schools, (4) teachers in government schools are better paid than teachers in private schools, (5) principals in both government and private secondary schools perceived their effectiveness as higher than did the teachers in those schools.
The Relationship between Western and Thai Music Objectives in the Undergraduate Music Programs of Selected Thai Universities and Colleges
The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between Western and Thai music objectives in the undergraduate music programs of selected Thai universities and colleges. The data were collected from two sources: (1) an investigation of university music catalogs and syllabi for potential conflict areas in Western and Thai music objectives, and (2) questionnaire responses from university music teachers regarding their opinions about those potential conflict areas found from reviewing catalogs and syllabi. The dissertation is organized into six chapters: the introduction in Chapter I; the synthesis of related literature and background information regarding music study in higher education in Thailand in Chapter II; the design of the study in Chapter III; the comparisons of required music programs of six Thai universities in Chapter IV; the analysis of questionnaire data in Chapter V; and the summary, conclusions, discussions, and recommendations in Chapter VI. It was found that Western and Thai music objectives tended to be seen as supporting each other in the areas of music theory, orchestration, form and analysis, music history, counterpoint, composition, and the practice of pitched and unpitched musical instruments. Sight reading practices in Western music were found to support the rote method utilized in the study of Thai music. Western and Thai singing methods tended to be seen as conflicting somewhat with each other. The Western diatonic scale system tended to be seen as conflicting somewhat with the Thai musical scale system. The establishment of a course in the sight-reading of Thai music was recommended in Thai universities.
The Current Status of Thai Teacher Institutions in Regard to Environmental Problems and a Proposed Environmental Curriculum System for Teacher Training Programs
This study investigated the current status of Thai teacher institutions in regard to environmental problems and proposed an environmental curriculum system for teacher training in Thailand. An interview questionnaire was designed to gather descriptive data about selected Thai teacher institutions, teaching strategies utilized in environmental-related courses, and the employment of ten selected environmental-related problems in three aspects: (1) courses offered at Thai teacher institutions, (2) environmental research conducted by faculty members of Thai teacher institutions, and (3) environmental services provided to the public by faculty members of Thai teacher institutions. Of the seventeen Thai traditional teacher institutions considered, representatives from fifteen (88 percent) were interviewed.
Job Satisfaction Among Physical Education Instructors at Teachers Colleges in Thailand
The purpose of this study was to investigate job satisfaction among physical education instructors at Teachers Colleges in Thailand by using the Faculty Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction Scale developed by Olin R. Wood, which was translated into the Thai language by Vatthaisong. The investigation was based on the 10 facets of job satisfaction selected from Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene theory: achievement, growth, interpersonal relations, policy and administration, recognition, responsibility, salary, supervision, the work itself, and working conditions. The questionnaire consisted of 68 items. A 6-point rating scale was used for the 10 facets of job satisfaction. A total of 169 physical education instructors from 36 Teachers Colleges in Thailand, or 86.22% of the population, participated in this study. For this investigation, frequencies, percentages, one-way ANOVA, and the Scheffe method were used for data analysis. Significance was established at the .05 level. From the findings of this study it could be concluded that physical education instructors were satisfied with their jobs. The major sources of satisfaction were ranked as follows: interpersonal relations, the work itself, achievement, recognition, responsibility, working conditions, growth, policy and administration, supervision, and salary. The gender variable did not contribute significantly to job satisfaction, while region, age, level of education, work position, years of teaching experience, and salary level did contribute significantly to job satisfaction. There were no significant differences between the overall job satisfaction (item 68) of the physical education instructors and their demographic classifications. The levels of overall job satisfaction derived from the 10 facets and item 68 were similar. Thus it could be concluded that physical education instructors at Teachers Colleges in Thailand were satisfied with their jobs.
A Model Graduate Program in Physical Education for Thai Colleges and Universities
The primary purpose of this study was the development of a model graduate program leading to a master's degree in physical education which could be used in Thailand and provide suitable guidelines for Thai colleges and universities interested in establishing such a program. A secondary purpose was to develop a systematic approach for student admission and a retention plan which would be compatible with the current trends and administration of higher education in Thailand. Following a review of the literature that included the history of general education, higher education, and physical education in Thailand as well as graduate study in physical education in the United States, a research instrument was devised to elicit responses from chairpersons of physical education departments in 156 U.S. institutions of higher learning and from a professional panel of five physical educators in Thailand concerning four aspects of master's degree programs in physical education: patterns and organization, curricular concepts, admission and retention requirements, and core course requirements. The return rate for the chairpersons surveyed in the United States was 85 per cent. The responses received from the U.S. and Thai professionals revealed a consensus between the two groups with regard to a number of the items in all four of the topic areas covered by the questionnaire. Based upon the survey results, guidelines were suggested for a model master's degree program in physical education in Thai colleges and universities. In addition, recommendations for further research were made, notably a review of master's programs in physical education in other countries which could provide valuable information for further modification of the model and systematic evaluation of the model program as implemented within a university setting.
Attitudes of Faculty Members in the Open Universities in Thailand toward Media Technologies
This study was to compare the attitudes in terms of sex and current position, and to investigate the attitudes of faculty members in Open Universities in Thailand toward media technologies in terms of age, education, and teaching experience. A 25-statement questionnaire, with a reliability of 0.91 for measuring attitudes, was used to gather the data. The total stratified random sampling population was 300 faculty members in the Open Universities, 272 from Ramkhamhaeng University (RU) and 28 from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU). The returned rate of the questionnaire was 244 (81.33%), 219 (80.51%) from RU and 25 (89.28%) from STOU. The t test was used to test significant differences between males and females, and administrators and faculties. The one-way analysis of variance was used to test significant differences among the levels of age, education, and teaching experience. The results of this study indicated that the attitudes of faculty members in Open Universities in Thailand toward media technologies were not significantly different in terms of sex, age, education, teaching experience, and current position. The faculty members considered the use of (1) closed circuit television as the form of media which enhanced teaching quality and student learning in virtually all instructional contents, aided instructors, improved instruction, and was readily available; (2) television as the form of media which made the content of the course more clear for students, promoted students* independent study, increased student motivation, was helpful to instructors in improving instruction, and was cost-beneficial; (3) radio as the form of media most frequently used in the past; (4) overhead projector as the form of media most manageable in the teaching process; (5) laser disc player as the form of media too complex for efficient classroom use; and (6) interactive video systems as the form of media most inhibiting to instructors.
The Utilization of Computers in Public Universities in Thailand
The purpose of this study is to identify, describe, and compare the use of computers in the various types of public universities in Thailand utilizing as factors (a) the general use of computers in administration, instruction, and research, (b) the budgeting allocation and accounting of computer resources, (c) the administrative organizational structure of computing facilities, (d) the policy formulation regarding computer use, and (e) the utilization of hardware systems and computer languages. All twelve public universities plus the eight campuses of Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand were sent questionnaires. The following major findings and conclusions are based on the information gained from the study: 1. The average number of years computers have been used by Thai public universities is seven years; 2. A greater emphasis is placed on instructional use of the computer than on other uses; 3. The majority of institutions have special funds allocated and budgets established for computer usage; 4. More money is spent for research computing; 5. The majority of the institutions have one centralized computing center that either provides the services without charge or charges only for a part of the services and software costs; 6. Directors of computing centers are primarily and directly responsible for computing, followed by vice presidents for administration; 7. The most frequently reported computing policy formulators are vice presidents, computing center directors, computer usage committees, and ad hoc committees; 8. The computer hardware systems used by Thai public universities vary both in size and in manufacturer, and there is no standardized use of computer languages. Since more importance is placed on instructional uses of the computer, budgets for computer usage should be reviewed for appropriate financial allocations. In addition, increases in computer course offerings and in computer literacy requirements in Thai public universities may result in serious faculty shortages.
An Analysis of Current Faculty Evaluation Practices in Two Selected Universities in Thailand
The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the current faculty evaluation practices in two universities in Thailand as perceived by faculty and administrators. Although both institutions are universities, one is notably larger and more diversified. From a sample population of 450 (250 each), the response rate was 71.8 per cent. A survey instrument was used to collect the data early in 1984. Statistical procedures used in the analyses of data include frequency and percentage of responses, analysis of variance for split-plot repeated measures design, t tests, and binomial distribution as required to answer the twelve research questions designed to guide the study.
Secondary Social Studies Teaching Competencies as Perceived by Student-Teachers, Instructors, and Administrators in Thailand
The major purpose of this study was to determine what differences exist among groups of social studies student-teachers, instructors, and administrators in eight teachers colleges in Northern Thailand regarding their perceptions of the importance of selected social studies teaching competencies.
Knowledge and Skills for the Adult Educator in Thailand
The purpose of this study was to identify and specify knowledge and skills needed by adult educators in Thailand. This study provided information for establishing a guide to be used in professional training and in graduate programs in adult education. A three round Delphi technique was used to develop the consensus of findings. The first round solicited open-ended responses from twenty panelists. One hundred and twenty-five knowledge and skill statements, the responses from the first round, were developed into a five-point rating scale questionnaire. This questionnaire was utilized in both Round II and III. Median, mode and interquartile ranges were applied to specify the consensus of the panel of experts. The one hundred and twenty-five knowledge and skill statements, seventy-five knowledge statements and fifty skill statements, were classified into four major categories: teaching, administration, research and general experience. The experts for the study consisted of eleven non-formal education officers and nine university professors in adult/continuing education and non-formal education. From seventy-five knowledge statements, sixteen were rated at the highest priority of importance. Forty-nine statements were rated at above average priority of importance and two statements were rated at average. Eight statements did not meet the interquartile range criterion as a consensus of the panelists. From fifty skill statements, fifteen statements were rated at the highest priority of importance; thirty statements were rated at above average; one statement was rated at average; and four statements failed to meet the interquartile range criterion.
A Study of the Percepts in Leadership Roles of Department Chairpersons in the Faculty of Education at Six Teacher Colleges
The focus of this study is a comparison of the perceptions and expectations of the leadership role and function of the department chairpersons in the faculty of education by the respective department chairpersons, deans, and all faculty members from each of the six public teacher colleges in Bangkok, Thailand. In conclusion, role conflict between the department chairpersons can be reduced if the department chairpersons concentrate on the expectations of faculty members. The department chairpersons need to reevaluate their leader behavior in relation to both deans and faculty members in order to fulfill the organizational goals and personal needs.
A Delphi Investigation of Staff Development Knowledge and Skills Needed for Primary School Principals in Thailand
This study sought to determine the staff development knowledge and skill needs of school administrators as perceived by primary school principals in Thailand. This study posed the following questions for investigation: what specific knowledge and skills do primary school principals in Thailand perceive as necessary for them to perform the role of staff developer in their schools, and which competencies are perceived to be the most important?
Rural Women and Development: A Study of Factors Affecting Participation of Rural Women in Nonformal Education Programs in Thailand
This study identified and analyzed factors which affect the participation of rural women in nonformal education programs. These factors were linked to the national program for rural women. Document analysis and unstructured interviews of policy personnel were used to describe national policies for educational programs for women, the status of women's participation in those programs, and issues that influence women's education. Participant observation and unstructured interviews were employed to obtain data in the field study of Baan Kha Klang village. Forty-two women in the village, 21 who had participated and 21 who had not participated in nonformal education programs within the past year, were randomly selected as subjects.
The Role of Library Science Departments of Teachers Colleges and Universities in Continuing Professional Education for Librarians in Thailand
This study was designed to investigate the current practice of continuing professional education in the library science departments of teachers colleges and universities in Thailand and the role of the library science department in continuing professional education for librarians. In order to accomplish this task, two questionnaires were developed and administered to 236 chairpersons and library school faculty of 31 tecahers colleges and 9 government universities. Of the returned questionnaires, 72.88% were usable. Data were analyzed using percentage and a contingency chi-square test. The major conclusion of the study was that while the library science departments of teachers college and universities in Thailand provide to some extent, all 20 continuing education items of the Association for Library and Information Science Education model, only two were identified as being provided by more than a majority of institutions.
The Perceptions of Thai Students in Thailand of the Study of English as a Foreign Language
The subject of the study was the perceptions of Thai students, in four different teacher education colleges in Thailand, of the study of English as a foreign language. The study had four purposes: To determine the attitudes of the students toward, and their recommendations for, instruction in the study of English? To determine students' perceptions about the importance of learning English; To determine the relationship between the above attitudes and the students' achievement; To analyze the data and conclusions reached and to make appropriate recommendations based on them.
Stress in Academic Administrators in Public and Private Universities in Thailand
The purposes of this study were to measure and compare stress levels of academic administrators in public and private universities which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of University Affairs in Thailand. The administrators surveyed included vice rectors (vice presidents), deans, department chairpersons, and secretary officers from five public and five private universities. The four administrative stress factors studied included role-based stress, task-based stress, conflict-mediating stress, and social-confidence stress.
Thai Teachers' Beliefs about Learner-Centered Education: Implications for Success For Life Thailand
The Thai government has strongly advocated for the learner-centered education for the past decade. Success For Life Thailand (SFLT), a brain-research-based early childhood education program blended with the theories of the developmentally appropriate practices and child-centered philosophies, has been implemented in Thailand for over 8 years. The purposes of the present study were to: (a) describe the current statuses of the Thai early childhood educators' learner-centered beliefs and practices, (b) identify if the SFLT training workshop affects teachers' learner-centered beliefs and practices, and (c) examine if other variables, along with familiarity with the SFLT program, predict teachers' learner-centered beliefs and practices. Ninety-three preschool and kindergarten teachers participated in the study. Among them, 17 were SFLT trainees in 1999 and 2000 (i.e., the previously trained group), 43 were trained in Year 2006 (the currently trained group), and the others were comparable to the currently trained group by matching the key personal and school variables. The Teachers Beliefs and Practices Survey: 3-5 Year Olds (Burts et al., 2000) and the Learner-Centered Education: the Assessment of Learner- Centered (ALCP) for K-3 (McCombs, 2001) were used to collect data on the various domains of the learner-centered beliefs and practices. Findings reveal that: (a) Thai teachers highly endorse learner-centered beliefs, (b) Thai educators demonstrate relatively low levels of developmentally appropriate practices and high levels of developmentally inappropriate practices (DIP) in comparing with the American early childhood educators, (c) the previously trained SFLT teachers score higher on the DAP domains and lower on the DIP domains than the other two groups, and (d) familiarity with the SFLT program, along with teacher's education level, years of teaching experience, and the total number of students in the classroom do not predict variations on the different domains of the DAP and learner-centered learning questionnaires. Future studies need to use …
Thailand's Foreign Relations in Perspective
The purpose of this thesis is to study Thailand's foreign relations. The specific argument will be that, to a large extent, Thailand was able to keep her independence because of her rulers' ability to adapt the country's policy to the changing circumstances in foreign affairs. Therefore, it was imperative for policymakers to look at the threats to the country's security from the local point of view and to develop appropriate policies for dealing with them accordingly. The thesis is organized into six chapters. After the introductory chapter, the second and third chapters examine the historical development and the general features of the foreign relations of Thailand, respectively. Chapter Four deals with the change in the direction of foreign policy after the Second World War. In contrast to the traditional foreign policy, the government under military dictatorship gradually moved in the direction of the Western, especially American, position. The positive and negative consequences of the pro-American policy are treated in Chapter Five, It is pointed out that this policy contributed to the sharp increase in activity of Communist insurgents in various parts of the country. By comparing the post-war foreign policy with the traditional policy prior to that time, a conclusion can be drawn that Thailand is better off with her traditional method in dealing with foreign powers, That is, under normal circumstances she should maintain friendly relations with other countries but should not become too closely involved and identified with any foreign power in particular.
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is a kind of self-defense with its own forms of fighting which are different from the self-defense styles of other countries, whether it is in a form of wrestling, Karate, Taekon-do, etc.. Muay Thai is not only fighting for self-defense but also an art and science demonstrated by using various parts of body and movement resulting into forms of offense and defense. This documentary film was made for educational purpose and to spread the art of Thai Boxing to foreigners. VHS video tape was used as a medium to present this documentary. There are two segments in this Muay Thai Documentary. The first segment presents the history, circumstances, and general techniques of Muay Thai. The second segment shows the everyday life of ordinary boxers by using a Thai child named Noppadol as an representative for other fighters.
Acceptance Theories for Behavior in Conducting Research: Instructors in the Rajabhat University System, Thailand
Responding to globalization and its effects on education and research development, the Thai government decided to push all public universities to become autonomous and establish a system of quality assurances. The establishment of quality assurances has had a large impact on many Thai instructors, especially in new public universities. Thai instructors are now forced to more focus on conducting research because the number of research publications is regarded as one of the main criteria for quality universities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the key factors, at the individual and university levels, which impact on the instructors' behavior in conducting research of the full-time instructors in the faculty of Management Science from the Rajabhat Universities in Thailand. The current study will help explain how and why the instructors accept or refuse to conduct research and provide insight into the salient factors motivating the instructors to produce more research by conducting HLM. Data were collected from 694 participants at 37 institutions via a questionnaire survey. The findings revealed that there was no difference among these 37 universities on behavior in conducting research. The key factors statistically influencing behavior in conducting research of the instructors were facilitating conditions, academic degree, social influence, and usefulness as well as ease of conducting research that the instructors perceived. This study gained 46% of effect size.
Moisture-Strength Characteristics of Selected Soils in Thailand, Volume 1: Analysis and Application of Data
Partial summary: "Soil moisture, soil strength, and other relevant data were collected in Thailand during two wet seasons and one dry season for use in the development of methods to predict soil trafficability for off-road ground contact vehicles in Southeast Asia. Data were collected at 75 test sites distributed in eight geographic areas which had differences in soils, weather regimes, terrain, and land use" (p. xi).
Environmental Factors Affecting Ground Mobility in Thailand: Preliminary Survey, Appendix B: Soil Classification
"This appendix discusses the methods used to classify soils for the preliminary Thailand study and presents pedological soil profile descriptions" (p. B1).
Trafficability Classification of Thailand Soils
This report discusses the results of studies to analyze and classify various kinds of soils in Thailand and the likelihood that military vehicles can negotiate them.
Teachers' Perceptions of Computer Use in Elementary and Secondary Classrooms in Thailand
The purpose of this study was to create a base of descriptive information about computer applications in the elementary and secondary classrooms of Thailand. To accomplish this task, two forms of questionnaires were developed and administered to a randomly selected sample of 527 school teachers and 94 college instructors throughout the Northeastern area of Thailand. Data were analyzed using a chi-square test, a £-test, and a one-way analysis of variance procedure.
Attitudes of Faculty Members in Rajamangala Institute of Technology, Thailand, Toward the Implementation of Computers
This study explored the attitudes and perceptions of faculty members in Rajamangala Institute of Technology (RIT), Thailand. The purpose of this study was to (a) determine which demographic variables are associated with faculty members attitudes toward the implementation of computers in higher education in Thailand, and (b) determine perceptions among faculty members toward barriers to the widespread use of computers.
Cultural Identity in Thai Movies and Its Implications for the Study of Films in Thailand
The primary purpose of this study was to find the content and form of movies which conform to the taste of the majority of Thai audiences and, at the same time, are universal enough to attract international audiences. Because film is an extension of other art forms, this required extensive research into the roots of Thai performing arts.
The Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on the Achievements and Attitudes of Private Postsecondary Vocational-Technical Students in a Supplementary English Course in Thailand
The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of normal instruction supplemented by the computer-assisted instruction English program Grammar Game on achievement and attitude scores of vocational-technical students in Thailand. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial ANOVA design. One hundred seventy-eight students at the Lanna Polytechnical College in Thailand were randomly selected from the population of 10 classrooms. Four classes were intact groups, with two classes randomly assigned to the experimental groups which received Lecture/CAI and the other two as control groups which received Lecture. The 89 students in each group were divided into high- and low- ability, based on their previous English scores. Subjects received treatment for nine weeks. Pre-test and post-test instruments on achievement and attitude were administered to both groups. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS), and the General Linear Model (GLM) package computer program yielded the MANOVA results. Based on data analysis, the findings were as follows: (1) There was a significant difference between the students in a Lecture/CAI English program and the students in a Lecture English program when they were compared simultaneously on the achievement and attitude scores, F(l, 176) = 18.97, p < .05. (2) There was no significant interaction between the types of teaching methods and levels of ability when achievement was used as the dependent variable, F(l, 174) = .48, p > .05. (3) There was no significant interaction between the types of teaching methods and levels of ability when attitude was used as the dependent variable, F(l, 174) = .06, p > .05. The conclusion was that normal instruction supplemented by CAI improved achievement and attitude scores. On the other hand, the effect of two types of methods on achievement remained the same for high- and low-ability students and so did the effect of two types …
Festival ensemble
Yao Tribe Festival ensemble. A) Pants. Black cotton(?) pants, 3/4 or longer in length. Plain waistband and upper section. Thighs, outsides of legs, and lower legs areas are intricately decorated, created in part by sewing together bands of woven work, and in part by bands of cross-stitch. The decorations are geometric forms, stylized natural forms, etc. in green, yellow, white, red, orange, pink, and black. No labels or tags in pants. B) Coat/Jacket/Top. Black cotton upper-body garment, full-length. Large "collar" of dark red fuzzy "pom-pom" edging with scattered green, yellow, and blue strands at base of trim and in places around neck. Long sleeves edged at ends in narrow bands of red and white applied fabric. Center front opening with no fasteners. Slits at sides from hem to waist create "ties" from the front flaps of the garment, which are trimmed in blue edging. At top of each side slit are attached three long tassels of magenta/pink yarn with beaded tops. No tags or labels in coat. C) Hat. - stored separately, on individual record. D)"Hat Scarf". Black strip of cotton(?) which terminates at each end in square panel with internal stiffening agent (cardboard?). Edged on two sides in magenta/pink/reddish "pom-pom" edging. Center of each panel with applied printed square of fabric with geometric motif of crosses in pink, green, red, and blue. No tags or labels in hat scarf. E) Back apron/belt panel. Central vertical panel consisting of black cotton vertical rectangle with wide border of blue silk(?). Backed with black cotton. Extending from each side at top are very long rectangular bands/ties. From panel outwards on each side: Vertical stripes of yellow, green, white, pink, white, blue, white, green, white; 5 squares of patchwork/embroidery in pink and green with small touches of orange, red, blue, etc.; Vertical bands …
The Development of a Model for a Provincial Science Museum in Thailand to Provide Education in Science and Technology
This study was designed to develop a provincial science museum model for expanding science museums to the provinces in Thailand.
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
This report looks at the relationship between the U.S. and Thailand. This includes recent rivalries between populist political forces, nepotism in government, and Thai relationships with neighboring countries.
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