Showing papers in "Silpakorn University Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts in 2012"

Factors Affecting Job Performance: A Review of Literature

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate existing literature and theory in order to initially construct a conceptual framework of SEM factors affecting job performance. The results of the study revealed that organizational justice, work engagement, and public service motivation (PSM) have direct effects toward job performance. Transformational leadership, however, has both direct and indirect effects toward job performance.

Teacher Written Feedback for L2 Learners' Writing Development

Abstract: The article focuses on the importance of teacher writtenfeedback on L2 students’ writing development including its effects onboth students’ language accuracy and their motivation. It discussesstudents’ feedback preferences in terms of content, compares themethods of giving feedback, and suggests instructional practices tohelp teachers to provide effective written feedback for their students.Feedback can be given directly or indirectly. In order to give effectivewritten feedback, teachers should consider their students’ needs forerror correction and classroom realities. No matter what method is used,it is important for teachers in ESL and EFL settings to give students acrystal clear explanation. Also, teachers should include comments ofpraise and encouragement in their written feedback because positivefeedback can boost student motivation to improve their writing skills. Key Words: Teacher feedback; Writing; L2

Factors Affecting Organizational Citizenship Behavior of Passenger Car Plant Employees in Thailand

Abstract: Research objectives were to determine the conceptual framework and to develop the causal model of factors affecting organizational citizenship behavior of passenger car manufacturing plant employees in Thailand The study reported the responses of 672 operational employees from 14 passenger car manufacturing plants operating in different parts of Thailand Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS (version 115), tested with confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the heterogeneity of all constructs, and assessed with path analysis to test the cause and effect relationships among main constructs of the study using LISREL (version 8) with a structured questionnaire containing standard scales of organizational justice, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior to determine the relationships of organizational justice, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior Research findings indicate that dimensions of organizational justice, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment have moderated the positive effects on organizational citizenship behavior Job satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship

The Relationships of Factors Affecting Post-purchase Behavioral Intentions in Tourism Sector

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to study the relationshipsof factors affecting post-purchase behavioral intentions in tourismsector on the basis of the investigated variables from recent relevantliterature. The exploratory results of this study led to identification ofdirect and indirect factors affecting post-purchase behavioral intentions,including corporate social responsibility, destination image, servicequality, perceived value, tourist satisfaction and tourist complaints forthe development of proposed model. Key words: Post-Purchase Behavioral Intentions; Tourist Complaints;Tourist Satisfaction; Perceived Value; Service Quality;Destination Image; Corporate Social Responsibility

Readiness and Development of Readiness in Social Welfare Work for the Disabled of Tambon Administration Organizations, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand

Abstract: This research was aimed to study the readiness and developmentof readiness in social welfare for the disabled of Tambon administrationorganization, Nakhon Pathom Province. The mixed methodology usedin this study included both quantitative research and qualitative researchand it was divided into 2 phrases: (1) to study the readiness of Tambonadministration organizations (TAOs) in Nakhon Pathom Province toprovide services for disabled persons in terms of knowledge, attitudeand participation and (2) to develop the readiness in terms of knowledgeand attitude as well as to transfer how to provide services for disabledpersons by means of seminars with specialists. The population of thisstudy included administrators and staff of TAOs in Nakhon PathomProvince, and they were the sample of this study. This sample wasselected by the purposive sampling technique. The sample group of Firstphrase was composed of two groups: (1) 146 administrators of Tambonadministration organizations, and (2) 1,247 officer of TAOs in Nakhon Pathom Province. Second phrase was 67 participants in seminars, wascomposed of administrators, officer of TAOs in Nakhon Pathom Provinceand people working for or related to the disabled.The research results revealed as follows. The readiness of TAOsin Nakhon Pathom Province to provide services for disabled persons interms of knowledge of the disabled and how to provide appropriate servicewas rated at the high level. The attitude to provide services for disabledpersons was at the highest level. TAOs in Nakhon Pathom Provinceparticipated in providing services for the disabled at the high level interms of health and social services only. The other welfares matterssuch as education, occupation, and income; lodges; and recreation wererated at the low level. The problem was budget for managing welfarebecause it was insufficient and did not co-respond to the real practiceof local welfare management. Moreover, the administrators of TAOsin Nakhon Pathom Province did not set the operation of social welfarefor the disabled at the high level. The disabled also did not realize theirrights and did not co-operate in doing some activities. The researcherdeveloped the readiness TAOs in Nakhon Pathom Province to provideservices for disabled persons by means of seminars, and participantsstated that the seminars provided were useful and they gained somemore knowledge. Key Words: Readiness; Social welfare; Disabled person; TambonAdministration Organization

Archaeology in the Thonburi Area

Abstract: At the time of writing, archaeological excavations have beencarried out at four sites in the Thonburi area: Wichai Prasit Fort, KhongBan Khamin (the former Thonburi moat), the former Thonburi trainstation area, and Pong Pajjamit Fort. The information gathered fromthe archaeological excavations is greatly significant to affirm, verify,and test existing knowledge from historical documents. Furthermore,it can clearly support topics of original historical knowledge, whichhitherto had no records. The objectives of this article are to presentnew information and evidences derived from the technical method ofthe archaeological excavation, which had never been revealed so far,and to demonstrate it’s contribution to archaeological knowledge in theThonburi area. Key Words: Thonburi; Thonburi Archaeology; Bangkok Archaeology

Morality Based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy with the Management of Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) to Raise the Sufficiency of Chiang Mai Local Politics

Abstract: This research aimed to study morality based on sufficiency economy which is appropriate to the management of subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO) and can increase the morality of these organizations when they applied this morality to their management. Quantitative analysis was used to evaluate the achievement of raising the political morality of 27 SAO in Chiang Mai which were used as the sample in this study. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 was used to analyze the data. Limited Dependent Variable Model (LIMDEP) version 9 was used to test the hypothesis. The research outcome was that integrity, diligence and lack of greed are the most appropriate forms of morality based on sufficiency economy for the management of these 27 organizations 99%, 99% and 95% level of significance respectively. These can raise morality by 36.01%. It illustrates that all of these moralities based on sufficiency economy applied in the management of SAO can reflect the image of decentralization of local political development and democracy.

Thai and Indian Cultural Linkage: The Religious Festivities

Abstract: There is a long history of cultural linkage between India and theSoutheast Asian region. The Indian influence can be found in culturaland religious practices, arts, scriptures, and language. One of thecommon cultural heritages shared is the celebration of the majorreligious festivals. The festivals have originated in India and are widelycelebrated in the Southeast Asian countries. In this paper, I am interestedin examining the Indian cultural influence with an emphasis on fourmajor annual festivals celebrated in Thailand. The major Thai festivalsinclude Songkran, Loy Krathong, Thai-Chinese Vegetarian festival,and the Long boat race. These festivals share a common culturalheritage with Holi, Karthik Purnima & Deepavali, Navratre, and Onam.My research revisits the Thai-Indian Cultural linkage through thesereligious festivals that are celebrated at the same time of the year butunder different names. Key Words: Hindu; Festivals; Religion; Thailand; Songkran; Holi;Deepavali; Loy Krathong; Navratre; Onam

Impact of Nonfarm Participation on Household Welfare: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract: This article employs propensity score matching approach toestimate the impact of nonfarm participation on rural household welfarein Punjab province of Pakistan. For the study cross sectional data set wascollected from 325 households from the southern Punjab province. Thedata was collected from both categories of farmers having participatedin the nonfarm activities and not participated in the nonfarm activities.The propensity score matching approach was employed to correct forpotential sample selection biased ness, which may arise due to systematicdifferences between the participants and non participants. A numberof matching algorithms were employed to check the robustness of theresults. The empirical results indicate that education play a significantrole regarding nonfarm participation. The nonfarm participants’households have higher incomes and have lesser poverty levels in therange of 9-18 percent. Key Words: Nonfarm; Poverty; Income; Propensity Score Matching;Pakistan.

Encountering Death: Towards a Deeper Understanding of Life in Wit and Time

Abstract: Even though people know everyone has to die one day, it seemsnobody realizes that this is a truth of life and they themselves aregoing to die. This is apparently a universal problem for all people andit causes them to live their lives in forgetfulness until the day theyhave to encounter death. This article aims to explore how the narrativetechniques employed in Margaret Edson’s Wit and Chart Korbjitti’s Timeinduce each individual reader to contemplate death and meaning of lifeand stimulate them to question, criticize and evaluate his/her own life. Key Words: Alienation effect; Brechtian techniques; Chart Korbjitti;Comparative literature; Death; Margaret Edson; Narrativetechniques; Time; Wit

Saphao: Lan Na Perception on a Journey Across the Ocean

Abstract: Saphao is a Lan Na word equivalent to the Central Thaisamphao referring to a Chinese style ocean-going merchant shipor junk. There are many archaeological traces such as terracottaseals, medals and stucco motifs found in many sites in Thailanddepicting the connection with India, the Jambūdvīpa, and SriLanka. Some of those present the journeys by one-mast vesselsand also brigs. Several folk jatakas composed by Lan Na monks,as scholars, during the 15th – 16th Centuries A.D. referred to ajourney made by samphao namely, Suwannasangaraja jātakaand Chanthakataka jātaka for example. Although the jātakasdid not give any detailed description of the samphao and thejourneys made by them, several Buddhist documents of severalsects in Lan Na contain records of the trips made for the purposeof perpetuating Buddhism from its origin in Sri Lanka via suchtransportation as the samphao. The ‘crossing the great ocean’ conveys both the concreteand abstract meanings which include crossing over the samsāraor the process of life and death (birth, aging, sickness and death)transcending the Lokīya, the worldly and mundane, comfortsto Lokutara, the supramundane or absence of such unpleasantconditions. Several objects of sacrifice dedicated to certainimportant chedis containing the Buddha relics in the Lan Natradition include saphao kham (golden junk) which is also partof the sacrifice in certain Lan Na rites. In some Lan Na folk ritespracticed for the merit dedicated to a woman who died in givingbirth to a child it is required to have a model of saphao to carryall kinds of fishing equipment. This is to assist the dead womanwho died soaking in blood and amniotic fluid to ride on it andget released to be born again. Part of the merit dedicating phaseaccompanying the rite says that may the merits gained fromthis rite be like a crystal and golden ship taking the unfortunateperson to the next life.This article aims to investigate the allusions to saphao inthe various contexts of Lan Na society in the past, especiallythose related to Buddhist history, social history and its culture. Key Words: Saphao; Jātaka; Pannāsa jātakas; Lan Na; Sri Lanka

Internal Communication Problems in Privatization

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to focus on demonstrating faults of internalcommunication in privatization. A case study approach is employed inthis paper employs wherein a qualitative data collection was conducted.Interviews were used to identify key issues from the perspective ofthose employed in the case study organization. With special referenceto Thailand, the case of the privatization of the Provincial ElectricityAuthority was observed. It is anticipated that the paper will presentlacks of internal communication in a positive light, thus encouragingmore widespread application to assure successful outcomes in similarprojects. Key Words: Privatization; Internal Communication; State-OwnedEnterprise

The Analytical Study on Living Balance and Behavioral Adjustment of the Farmers: Case Study of Chiang Mai Sufficiency Economy Community Learning Centers

Abstract: The implementation of the Sufficiency Economy in the agriculturalsector, in the context of sufficiency, balance of natural resources,quality of agricultural produce and benefits of happiness, is the primetransformative learning leading to changes in basis of thought, belief,knowledge, attitude and former culture of farmers. Such learning underthe sufficiency economy has been applied to economic activities andliving balance of the farmers. Five aspects of the living balance wereanalyzed as follows: uncertainty which happened to production andliving, self-reliance and self-control, capital for making a living, livingstrategy, and the outcome. Concerning the achievement after conductingproduction activities, the farmers have adjusted their behavior under theanalysis in living strategy and the outcome. There were changes in sixaspects as follows, the reduction in expenses and costs of production,the increase in income and saving, living condition, conservation andutilization of natural resources and environment and generosity andsharing in communities. The achievement in learning to adjust thefarmers’ behaviors to those based on the Sufficiency Economy hascreated balance in production, investment, consumption and saving. Thishas efficiently caused secured remuneration in moderate quantity and within reasonable limits and produced immunity under the SufficiencyEconomy. Key Words: Living Balance; Adjustment of Farmers; SufficiencyEconomy; Transformative Learning

The Development of Village Fund into an Integrated Community Financial Institution

Abstract: Following to the setting up of the 1 million baht village fundscheme in 2001, the Thai government has contributed 74,865 million bahtto each village in total (National Village and Urban Community FundOffice, 2010). This money becomes the working capital and accessiblefinancial source for people in the rural villages. The government plans toupgrade the village fund to become the community financial institutionserving as the main financial source for the community. The problemsare that village fund administrators and the community members arenot ready for the operation and there is no clear approach for settingup community financial institution. This research aimed to study thedevelopment of the village fund into community financial institution inRoi Et and to propose an appropriate approach to establish an integratedcommunity financial institution in order to become choices for villagefund to upgrade into community fund in the future.This research was of qualitative and quantitative one. In qualitativestudy, the semi-structure in-depth interview was administered to the targetgroups which were model community financial institution administratorsand relevant government workers. In quantitative investigation, thequestionnaire was used to collect information from committees of thevillage funds and members of the village funds in Roi Et province. Thedata were collected from committees and members of village fund inRoi Et province totally 372 funds. The content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data and descriptive statistics were used to analyzethe quantitative data.From the data analysis, the researcher proposed the integratedcommunity financial institution as an optional form of communityfinancial institution, mandated to accumulate fund for a betteradministration. The principle was to provide equal opportunity and fairallocation to people in the community getting in access to the funds. Thiscan be a choice of financial institution administration with its simple andflexible steps for different community background. In this research, therewas also an investigation of effective financial institution. It was foundthat having efficient and honest committee was very important. Otherimportant features were the cooperation and royalty of members, thesufficient funds in the community as well as the readiness of facilitiesand the participation of people in the community. Key Words: Village Fund; Community Financial Institution; Development;Integrated Community Financial Institution

Ranking and the Globalization of Higher Education

Abstract: Since the 1980s, the idea of ranking universities has becomeincreasingly widespread. Originating in national rankings systems inthe USA, the rankings movement has become international. This paperexamines the varied indices of university excellence that are employedin the main rankings systems; asks how valid they are as measuresof university quality and the reasons they have become so popular;identifies the ways in which they exhibit systematic bias and the variousconsequences they have for academic life; describes the emergence of ananti-rankings movement in American universities; and suggests variousways in which universities may respond to rankings in the future.A paper presented to a conference on ‘University Excellence andthe Liberal Arts Tradition’, organized by the Social Science Division,Mahidol University International College, Mahidol University, Thailand,on 27 May 2011.My thanks to Ilyas Baker and Christian Osterheld for theircomments on an earlier draft of this paper.The academic world has experienced a number of profoundchanges over the past couple of decades, making the experiences ofteaching and learning at most universities significantly different nowthan they were in the period up to about the 1980s. Four major changesof particular importance have been: (i) the enormous expansion of higher education, especially in terms of student numbers, but also in the numberof colleges; (ii) the growing impact of ‘academic capitalism’ and the‘audit culture’; (iii) the recent focus – some would say obsession – withuniversity rankings and branding; and (iv) the increasing impact of‘internationalization’ and ‘globalization’. The present paper will examineaspects of this third theme, and subsequent papers will examine the otherthree. Key Words : University Ranking; Globalization

What are the Factors Influencing the Information Technology Adoption in Asian Region? A Study of the B2C E-Commerce Systems Success

Abstract: During this decade, large numbers of researchers investigate the success factors of B2C e-commerce systems. This may be due to the increased popularity of internet and its wide range of applications on personal as well as business use. However it is to be noted that majority of these studies were conceptual studies. Though some empirically validated studies were published on B2C e-commerce systems, very few focused on Asian consumers. The study aims to fill this gap by studying e-commerce success factors among Asian online consumers. Another important objective of this study is to re-specify the updated DeLone and McLean model by including essential factors such as trust and perceived cost of transactions, perceived value and thereby form a new model for measuring e-Commerce success. The research generated 7 inter related dimensions of e-commerce system success which are information quality, system quality, service quality, perceived cost, perceived value, online customer satisfaction and Repurchase Intention. Results show that the customer satisfaction and perceived value of the transactions are the two important factors primarily influencing Asian online users. Results show that online customer satisfaction is influenced by factors such as perceived value,