Showing papers in "ABAC Journal in 2016"

International Students’ Adjustment in Thailand

Abstract: This study investigates the adjustment of international students in Thai universities, divided into socio-cultural adjustment and psychological well-being. This study also explores the association between the socio-cultural adjustment and psychological well-being of the host culture. A total of 389 international students filled self-reported questionnaires. Findings revealed that there are no significant differences in terms of cross-cultural adjustment between genders, living with others, and length of stay in host culture. However, age groups and country groups contributed significantly to the differences in cross-cultural adjustment among international students. Interesting results were found where international students from Western countries present better cross-cultural adjustment than international students from Asian countries, particularly in academic, physical, mental health adjustment, and psychological well-being. The study also found that psychological well-being is influenced by levels of academic adjustment, physical and mental health adjustment, and living environment. The levels of interpersonal relationship adjustment and local cultural adjustment do not affect psychological well-being. Based on the results, the Departments of International Students in Thai universities should be concerned with the improvement of services and support to facilitate their international students’ cross-cultural adjustment.

Bridging the Gap between Tourism Education, Tourism Industry and Graduate Employability: Intricacies and Emerging Issues in Thailand

Abstract: The university education system in ASEAN will be affected by the new market conditions. The path to success for Thai educational institutions is to engage the market with a frontal assault by anticipating market demands and preparing themselves to meet that demand. Hospitality and Tourism is an interdisciplinary field requiring different employability competency that has yet to gain attention by tourism and hospitality educators in the academia. If the travel and tourism industry in Thailand hopes to sustain itself, it will need personnel who are both willing and enthusiastic workforce. This requires educational institution to create curricula to equip tourism and hospitality graduates with necessary skills and to impart knowledge. Students aspiring to take up tourism as their careers must be well aware of the ‘professional’ commitments of the industry. The future of the tourism and hospitality industry will really demand creative ideas from the next generation. Employability questions are beginning to stress what new ideas the candidates can bring. This paper provides insight into certain overlooked perspectives, missing linkages and policy gaps between institutions imparting tourism education and the tourism industry leading to employable graduates.

Coupling Reading Strategies and Literary Texts: An Approach to Improving Reading

Abstract: The present study aimed to explore the effect of reading comprehension strategy use and literature on the improvement of the reading ability of Iranian EFL learners. An analysis of the use of SQR3 (survey, question, read, recite, and review) and TPS (think, pair, and share) comprehension strategies in terms of the learners’ reading achievements was perused. Moreover, the differences between the reading of short stories as the source of teaching reading and adapted books were studied. The data were collected through a pretest-treatment-posttest design and were analyzed using t -tests and ANOVA. Results revealed that SQR3 and TPS groups outperformed the learners who did not receive any treatment. This indicated that merging reading strategies in reading short stores significantly improved the learners’ comprehension level. The study suggests that instructors should be aware of the learning opportunities that arise in literature-centered readings, provide learners with and instruct comprehension strategies, and accordingly enhance the experience of reading in a foreign language.

Domestic Tourists’ Perceived Value On ASEAN Vernacular Standard Homestay

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate the construct validity of a measurement scale for domestic tourists’ perceived value on the ASEAN vernacular homestay standard, when considering the ASEAN homestay standard for the year 2015 including the vernacular accommodations and surroundings in Ban Mae Kampong community based tourism center, Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is the only Thai vernacular homestay that conformed to the three-main qualifications (1) ASEAN standard homestay, (2) Thai standard homestay and (3) named in the official ASEAN tourism website as a representative of an ASEAN standard homestay. The reference population was domestic homestay tourists who visited Ban Mae Kampong. A total of 320 tourists completed the questionnaires. An exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the factors, while a confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation modeling procedure were performed by utilizing the LISREL procedure to assess the factor structure of the domestic tourists’ perceived value of the ASEAN vernacular homestay standard. The results showed that a single latent factor structure was fitted and acceptable. The five factors from highest to lowest loadings were (1) activities (experiential value), (2) management (functional value), (3) host-guest interaction (experiential value), (4) amenities (functional value) and (5) accommodation (functional value). The constructed reliability estimates of the five factors were 0.69, 0.77, 0.68, 0.61, and 0.50, respectively. The results indicate that functional and experiential factors are important determinants of the perceived value of ASEAN vernacular homestay tourism. It is therefore recommended that homestay providers, homestay leaders, and local governments should pay attention to the order of importance of these value dimensions to increase overall tourists’ perceived value as well as to better develop position strategies and to preserve the authenticity of this tourism niche.

English Reading Strategies Used by Thai Students with Different English Exposures from Different Educational Institutions

Abstract: This study aims to examine the English reading strategies employed by science students who are studying in the higher educational institutions in the Northeast of Thailand. Specifically, it has two purposes which are: 1) to investigate the frequency of reading strategies employed by students studying at public and private educational institutions, and 2) to examine whether the choices of reading strategies used vary significantly among the students’ types of institutions, and English exposures. Survey of Reading Strategies (SORS) questionnaires were administered to 549 undergraduate students. The statistical methods used to analyze the data were mean score (x), Standard Deviation (S.D), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings reveal that 1) science students reported moderate level of strategies used both in overall use and in the three main categories, and 2) types of institutions and English exposures affected the students’ strategies choices.

A Literature Survey of Educational, Political, and Economic Challenges in the ASEAN Countries: A Critical Analysis

Abstract: It is now obvious that numerous issues need to be considered to make the ASEAN Community (AC) a reality rather than an illusion. The current state of education, economy, and politics in ASEAN remains far from satisfactory in achieving the desired vision in the ASEAN Charter and goals in its three blueprints: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint. Thus, ignoring challenges and opportunities presented in the scholarly literature, reports, the media, and other outlets would result in substantial dilemmas in terms of growth and development in different sectors in the region. The purpose of this article is to articulate and emphasize challenges that ASEAN governments should confront and add it to their agendas to achieve the APSC, the AEC, and the ASCC goals. This paper consists of four sections. Section I describes educational challenges in the ASCC. Section II illustrates economic challenges in the AEC. Section III presents political challenges in the APSC. Section IV explores critical thinking questions about all areas covered in the paper. Finally, the authors drew a succinct conclusion.

ABAC GSB freshmen's perceptions on expected performance dimensions and learning preferences: implications to curriculum, instruction, and institution development

Abstract: This research aims to build comprehensive student profiles to identify perceptions and expectations of the students enrolled in the Master programs of the Graduate School of Business (GSB) at Assumption University of Thailand. The main purpose is to establish curriculum and instructional links between what is offered and what students perceived as relevant learning experiences in the program and contribute towards increased student satisfaction in their master degree education. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 379 incoming freshmen MBA students from February to August, 2015. The findings of the study revealed that among the performance dimensions expected by the industry from MBA graduates, the dimensions on English proficiency, ethical behavior, and effective use of IT obtained the highest means. Interestingly, timely achievement and responsibility as well as entrepreneurial spirit scored lowest while based on their profiles, the majority of the freshmen are self-employed. Likewise, the overall students’ preferences on the learning processes, modalities, and learning styles indicated no marked differences of preferences of one or two of these modalities and activities. This indicates that choices are generalized and would imply the need for a variety of teaching strategies to respond to the variety of learning processes and modalities that would require appropriate learning activities. To conclude on the interface of the three areas of the study namely: the demographic profiles, the expected performance dimensions, and preferred learning processes to areas of development in graduate education - curriculum, instruction, and institution development, certain initiatives for development were recommended such as: the inclusion of a module or course on the entrepreneurship as a basic foundational course for all students enrolled at GSB to support the third dimension of the Unique Identities of an ABAC graduate which is entrepreneurial spirit and leadership; the adoption and utilization of a brain-based holistic and integrative model of the experiential learning cycle by all lecturers to provide for the use of a variety of teaching modalities and learning activities in all courses. Further it is concluded that Quality Education at any level must come from the interface of quality curriculum, quality instruction, and quality organization. These three areas are intimately interactive and interrelated to achieve the desired outcomes of higher education and realize the vision of AU in “educating intelligences and active minds to change the world.”

Study On the Use of Assistive Technology and the Emotional Quotient of Students with Hearing Impairment

Abstract: This study is aimed to fulfill two main purposes- 1) To investigate the use of assistive technology in students with hearing impairment and examine its impact on physical conditions, emotional quotient, and learning achievement; 2) To compare three related factors regarding the use of assistive technology with respect to emotional quotient and learning achievement of hearing impaired students with different physical conditions. The participants of this study were 185 students enrolled in 12 th grade studying in 16 schools for the hearing impaired. The sample consisted of 60% female, 70% of them aged 18 to 20, and 80% had complete hearing impairment. Data was collected with a Likert-scale questionnaire. The research findings were as follows: with regard to the use of assistive technology, it was found to be at medium level. Additionally students’ emotional quotient (EQ) was assessed in three main categories- intelligence, virtue, and happiness. Data from the analysis showed that the overall EQ of the hearing impaired students was at a normal level.

A clinical study of the rate of episiotomy and perineal outcomes after delivery

Abstract: Episiotomy is widely performed as a ‘routine’ procedure during childbirth. The potential benefits for the use of the episiotomy include the prevention of severe perineal lacerations and pelvic floor relaxation. Evidently, episiotomy procedure may increase the likelihood of severe perineal pain, healing outcomes, and third or fourth degree tears. In spite of all these factors this procedure still remains a clinical practice and as part of normal delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of episiotomy and perineal outcomes after normal delivery. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered survey and chart review in two government hospitals located in Bangkok, Thailand. Anonymous patient’s data of 400 women was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed 80% of women received episiotomy. 2.2% of women who had episiotomy experienced a severe perineal laceration, compared to those who delivered without episiotomy. Perineal pain appears to be highest (90.94%) in women who had episiotomy than those who had spontaneous delivery without episiotomy (70%). Therefore, restrictive use of this procedure should be recommended to reduce complications and increase comfort for women after delivery.

Designing Simulation for Assessing People Skills and Competencies of School Leaders in Thailand

Abstract: The purposes of this study were to design and develop a simulation for assessing People Skills and Competencies (PSCs) of school leaders in Thailand. The research approach using in this study was Research and Development (R&D). The first part aimed to identify a theme and content of simulation by discovering the priority needs of PSCs used by school leaders in managing stakeholders on their educational administration tasks. The second part was focused on the development of computer-based-simulation program (CBSP) to assess PSCs of school leader. The sample of this study were 346 from the population of 2,537 secondary school directors under Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Thailand. The research instrument used in this study was a five level rating scaled questionnaire. The research finding showed that in the first part, the simulation theme and content was related to “self & social awareness” of school administrator in managing “local/ community representatives” when working on the “curriculum development” tasks. In the second part, the design and development of CBSP for assessing PSCs of school administrators was based on the five steps of simulation development framework. The simulation content and branching stories consisted of five actors, three decision trigger scenes and four choices in each scene. Thus, the accumulated branching alternatives in the simulation program were 420 choices totally.

Purchasing Behaviors of Consumers of Functional Drinks in Bangkok’s Metropolitan Region

Abstract: The never-ending hustle of urban life today has changed consumer behavior. Functional drinks now try to meet the new generation of health-conscious people due to the limited time available for cooking or eating. Functional drinks can replace eating some kinds of food or serve as an effective intake between meals. The functional drink is a healthy drink that benefits the human body. This study determined modern consumer behavior and the marketing factors affecting the consumer’s decision to purchase functional drinks. The respondents were those individuals who purchased functional drinks in the Bangkok Metropolitan region. The study was conducted using a survey method where a questionnaires was distributed to 400 sky train passengers at 4 different geographical locations in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Data was analyzed using a processed statistical SPSS package and was explained by the descriptive method and inferential statistics. The first hypothesis was tested with t-Test and one-way ANOVA. The second hypothesis was tested with t-Test at significance level at 0.05. This study revealed that respondents comprise of 80 % females and 20 % males. The prime reasons for their decision to purchase were mainly product freshness and their being certified as standard drinks by FDA. And the convenient stores are the outlets where they likely to purchase functional drinks. Consequently, the two hypotheses were accepted. Discussions were given and suggestion for further research was also recommended.

An Investigation of Chinese New HSK Test Takers' Learning Motivation in Thailand

Abstract: This research aimed: (1) to identify the Chinese new HSK test takers’ demographic factors including their gender, years of learning Chinese, studying school, family background and test levels; (2) to determine the levels of their learning motivation including the extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy for learning; (3) to compare the test takers’ learning motivation according to their demographic factors; (4) to determine the effects of these demographic factors across extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy for learning. The sample included all Chinese new HSK test takes for Levels 1-6 at Bangkok University Test Site in the year 2015. A total of 311 Thai students from the different schools of Thailand were selected using the convenience sampling technique. The research found that: (1) the majority of new HSK test takers were female students, from the public schools, with Thai-Chinese family background, learning Chinese for about 1-6years, and having taken the Chinese new HSK tests for the beginner and intermediate levels (Levels 1-4); (2) the level of new HSK test takers’ motivation for learning Chinese was moderate, their extrinsic motivation high, their intrinsic motivation and their self-efficacy for learning moderate; (3) the female students have higher learning motivation than the male students; students who learned for 1-6 years had higher learning motivation than those who learned for 7 years up; students from Thai-Chinese families had higher learning motivation than those from pure Thai families; students at the beginner level had higher learning motivation than those at the intermediate and advanced levels; (4) the effects of gender, years of learning Chinese, school type and family background and test level existed across the combination of three scales of motivation. Students’ gender, years of learning, family background, and test level had effects on their extrinsic motivation; gender, school type, family background and test level had effects on their intrinsic motivation; and gender, years of learning, school type, family background and test level had effects on their self-efficacy for learning at .05 level of significance. A discussion about each finding and recommendations for Chinese teachers and schools as well as for the future researchers were provided at the end of this study.

Culturally Dominant Preservice Teachers in the USA: Historically and Politically Ethnic Self-Identity Discovery through Technology to Deliver More Sensitive and Effective Multicultural Instruction

Abstract: Through the process of generations of assimilation, culturally dominant native English speaking preservice educators in the United States have lost their own cultural identity. Reconnecting to their cultural roots can assist them in understanding their own cultural self-identity, which will engender more empathy towards their students of other cultures. With a better vision of the benefits of a multicultural approach to classroom instruction, preservice teachers will be more inclined to implement multicultural instructional strategies into their own planning for daily curriculum. Advances and applications in technology can provide multicultural educators with tools to assist preservice educators in discovering their own ethnic roots. Becoming more knowledgeable about one’s own culture and identity will encourage future teachers to be more cognizant of the importance of including similar tactics for their own students.

A Structural Equation Model of Factors Influencing Thai Digital Music Piracy: A Conceptual Perspective

Abstract: This study presents a conceptual framework, using structural equation modeling, of the variables that influence Thai digital music piracy. From both the 1997 and 2008 economic turmoil to the technological leaps from cassettes, to CDs, to the Internet and the related peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing technologies, the Thai music industry has and continues to witness tumultuous times. More recently, broadband and Internet enabled smart phones have exacerbated the issues swirling around digital music piracy and the loss of revenue to both the music label houses and their artists. This study is therefore focused on the variables that contribute to factors influencing piracy. Music labels and artists need to understand the motives that cause users willingness to embrace illegal downloading and develop methods and markets to counter this act which is making business unsustainable.