Effects of Using Role-Playing Activities to Enhance the Social Behaviors of Kindergarteners in a Multicultural Classroom

Abstract

The current research endeavor aimed to study the effectiveness index of role-play activities, as well as compare the social behaviors of preschool students in a multicultural classroom before and after the role-play activities. The population included 36 five and six year-old preschool students who studied in the second semester of 2564 in Kindergarten 3 which was Chonburi’s mixed class group 1 consisting of three classes from three schools. The sample was selected by means of a cluster sampling of schools and a random selection of a school. All class members were assigned as the research sample. The research tools were a role-play experience plan and an assessment form of social behaviors of kindergarteners in a multicultural classroom. The data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, a t-test, and an effectiveness index. The results revealed that first, the value of the effectiveness index of role-play activities was equivalent to 0.9318 or 98.13%, showing improvement in social behaviors of kindergarteners in the multicultural class. Secondly, their social behaviors were enhanced with a statistical significance of .05, meaning role-play activities can enhance social behaviors of kindergarteners in the multicultural class.