Thai Food Eating of Maejo University Students, Chiang Mai According to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy

Abstract

This research aimed to study Thai food eating of Maejo University students, Chiang Mai in light of the philosophy of sufficiency economy and to compare the discrepancies between students’ personal information and their Thai food eating according to the philosophy of sufficiency economy. The sample group was 385 students in the academic year 2008, 160 of whom were male and 225 female, selected by multistage random sampling. The tool in this research was a questionnaire. The students’ personal data was analyzed by a computer program and One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in order to find descriptive statistic values which are frequency, percentage and average and approximate statistics, and the t-test (independent). A comparison of differences between averages gained after ANOVA analysis was done by using the LSD method. The data was presented in a table followed by a written report and suggestions from students and were presented in the form of an essay. The research revealed that:

1) The Thai food eating according to the philosophy of sufficiency economy of Maejo University students, Chiang Mai was at a moderate level ( = 3.486).

1.1) In the area of moderation of eating Thai food with starch base like cooked rice, noodles, the average was at a moderate level (= 3.476).

1.2) In the area of reasonableness such as eating freshly cooked food, the average was at a high level ( = 3.649).

1.3 ) In the area of immunity such as food hygiene was at a moderate level (= 3.335).

2) When comparing the discrepancies between the students’ profile of Thai food eating based on sufficiency economy and their personal profile, which were age, education level, religion, accommodation, monthly income as well as food expense and health, it was found to be statistically different with significance of 0.05 on monthly food expense.