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.

Graduation date: 1994

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.

Changing demographics and lifestyles in Thailand are eroding traditional patterns of family support for the elderly. Caring for the elderly within the family structure is no longer assured. However, the concept of living in retirement housing is unfamiliar to most senior Thai citizens. The purpose of this study was to examine the acceptance of nontraditional retirement housing by pre-retirees in Thailand. The study was based on Rogers' (1995) theory on diffusion of innovations. Personal innovativeness toward housing and acceptance of nontraditional retirement housing of an age-stratified sample of 423 faculty pre-retirees at selected Thai universities, representing metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, were examined. Four types of housing, perceived as new options to Thai people, were considered: the universal designed single detached house (SD); Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity or "granny flat" (ECHO); congregate housing (CH), and the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Independent variables were demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, education, and income) and housing characteristics (tenure status, dwelling expenditure, current housing type, and location). Data were collected during February 2002 through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of the independent variables were presented in frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and t-tests and ANOVA were conducted for comparison of variables. Stepwise multiple regression and nonparametric correlation were utilized to test seven null hypotheses. Results dictated rejection of six of the seven null hypotheses. A relationship between personal innovativeness toward housing and gender, income, and education level were found. Males and those with higher income had higher mean innovativeness scores. However, those with higher education levels had lower innovativeness toward housing. Females had higher mean acceptance scores for combined non-traditional housing types. Of the four housing types, the universal designed single detached house (SD) was the most acceptable, followed by Continuing Care Retirement Housing (CCRC). Metropolitan respondents were more accepting of the CCRC than non-metropolitan. A positive correlation was found between personal innovativeness toward housing and acceptance of non-traditional housing types. Personal innovativeness also mediated the effect of demographic and housing characteristics on acceptance of all non-traditional retirement housing types. Respondents showed a medium level of personal innovativeness and a medium to high level of acceptance of non-traditional housing types. Mass media communication was suggested to promote awareness and knowledge of non-traditional housing types to prospective elderly housing consumers. Research on cultural aspects of retirement housing for Thai housing consumers was recommended for further study. / Graduation date: 2003

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.

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.

The uses of computer technology in the fields of art and graphic design in Thailand were investigated for the purpose of identifying levels of current computer use from 280 responses to a specifically designed questionnaire among: 1) full-time graphic design educators, 2) art and design students, and 3) graphic design directors in professional business positions. The study instrument consisted of a questionnaire developed by the researcher, reviewed by a panel of seven experts selected by the Department of Creative Arts, Chula-longkorn University. The panel verified content-related evidence to ensure the validity of the instrument. Appropriate statistical procedures were implemented to develop responses to questions of interest. Analysis of the data showed that a majority of educators, students, and design professionals supported the use of computer in their professions and/or coursework, and that majorities of the same groups made regular use of computers. Subject to differences in rank ordering of computer usage among population groups, majorities from each group agreed that publications and graphics constituted the area of greatest use. A majority of the population agreed that computers helped to improve efficiency within the studio environment, and there were only slight differences among the three groups in generalized support of the use of computers within art and design curricula. All groups agreed that educational emphasis should be placed at the level of the baccalaureate degree, subject to the possible integration of computer training at all educational levels. Students reflected the highest percentage of use frequency, followed in order by professionals and educators. Each group reflected its own specific concerns in perceptions of major barriers to the use of computers in graphic design fields: Educators noted the lack of budgetary resources to install and maintain computers; students noted the lack of computer availability for hands-on experience; and design professionals perceived a lack of opportunity to attend training courses. Overall, the results of this study indicated that significant differences existed between groups representing academic fields (i.e., educators and students) and graphic design professionals for all criteria measured. / Graduation date: 1994