Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies

Guidelines for promoting agricultural social enterprise: A multiple case study from Thailand

2025-08-19T15:07:55+07:00

This qualitative research aims to investigate the operational processes and success factors of social enterprises in the context of agricultural development in Thailand. The study synthesizes practical guidelines to enhance the promotion of agricultural social enterprises. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Key informants consisted of 50 purposively selected individuals, including social enterprise committee members, social enterprise group members, and representatives from relevant government agencies, private organizations, and relevant communities. Four case studies of agricultural social enterprises with varying profit-sharing models were analyzed using content analysis. The research findings revealed that the operations of social enterprises in agricultural development involve creating shared concepts among group members, developing farmer groups to become entrepreneurs, and building upon organic farming systems to generate income for communities. Success factors involved with the promotion of social enterprises include knowledge development, community participation; member relationships contribute to efficient operations because social enterprises focus on internal processes, which affect their operations or members and group management. The proposed guidelines for promoting agricultural social enterprises encompass three key phases: (1) Initial Development focuses on setting social missions and goals based on local contexts and sufficiency economy principles; (2) Operational Strengthening includes developing production processes, participatory management, and organic certification; and (3) Strategic Expansion involves building cross-sectorial collaborations, farmer networks, and sustainable marketing mechanisms. This study offers practical implications for policymakers, local leaders, and development practitioners to enhance agricultural social enterprises as a mechanism for inclusive, community-based, and sustainable rural development in Thailand.

The development of an instructional model based on research-based learning and argumentation approaches to enhance critical thinking skills for undergraduate students

2025-10-15T15:34:18+07:00

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an instructional model integrating research-based learning and argumentation approaches to enhance critical thinking skills among undergraduate students. The research process consisted of two phases: (1) developing the instructional model and (2) studying its effectiveness. The target group consisted of 18 undergraduate students from a private higher education institution in Thailand, selected via purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using content and descriptive analyses. The findings indicated that the developed instructional model included four main components: (1) objectives, (2) principles, (3) instructional procedures, and (4) assessment and evaluation guidelines. The instructional procedures were organized into six stages: (1) problem identification, (2) solution exploration, (3) reception of arguments, (4) evidence augmentation, (5) verification process, and (6) structuring and discussion. The effectiveness study revealed a significant improvement in students’ critical thinking skills after participating in the instructional model, with a significance level of .01. These results underscore the potential of integrating research-based learning and argumentation approaches to enhance critical thinking among undergraduate students.

The influences of the life and education of His Royal Highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath in Russia on Siamese military development

2025-10-15T15:31:17+07:00

This study investigates King Rama V’s strategy to modernize the Siamese Army by sending his son, Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, to study in England and Russia. The aim was for the prince to be educated according to Western standards, acquiring proficiency in foreign languages, culture, and military affairs. This initiative was part of a broader plan to professionalize the Siamese Army and safeguard Siam against European imperialism. The research utilizes the British Library Oriental Manuscript 15749: Chakrabongse Letters as a primary source, focusing on the correspondence between King Rama V and Prince Chakrabongse. It examines the prince’s life and education abroad to uncover the King’s intentions, the prince’s experiences, and his contributions to the Siamese military upon his return. The findings reveal that King Rama V intended for Prince Chakrabongse to not only gain advanced military knowledge but also to serve as an informal ambassador for Siam. The prince embraced his educational responsibilities with dedication, gradually becoming a representative of the King and building strong relationships with various royal families, notably the Romanovs. After graduating with a military education and being promoted to senior colonel in the Russian Army, Prince Chakrabongse returned to Siam to serve as Chief of Staff. His knowledge and experience were crucial in integrating modern practices into Siamese military education, laying the groundwork for a more professional Thai army.

Rhetorical move structures in methods sections of Q1 Scopus-indexed applied linguistics research articles

2025-11-07T10:58:25+07:00

This study investigates the rhetorical move structures in the Methods sections of applied linguistics research articles (ALRAMs) published in Q1 SCOPUS-indexed journals. Drawing on Peacock’s (2011) move analysis framework—supplemented with two emergent moves—60 articles were systemically coded across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods paradigms from five top-ranked journals. The study examines move frequencies, linear sequences, and step-level realizations to identify both shared conventions and paradigm-specific patterns in methodological reporting. The findings reveal four obligatory moves—Overview, Subjects/Materials, Procedure, and Data Analysis—present in all texts (100%), while Research Aims/Questions and Location appear in nearly all (98.3%). Limitation and Ethical Considerations are conventional, (71.7% and 66.7%) and Researcher Positionality emerges as optional (25%). The most frequent sequence, M3→M5→M7 (Subjects/Materials → Procedure → Data Analysis), underscores a consistent methodological backbone across paradigms. However, rhetorical step realizations vary: qualitative articles emphasize context and reflexivity, quantitative ones highlight statistical procedures, and mixed-methods texts integrate both. These insights contribute to genre analysis by offering cross-paradigmatic evidence of how Methods sections are structured in applied linguistics. Pedagogically, the study supports academic writing instruction by guiding novice researchers to align with disciplinary norms and enhance methodological clarity and credibility. The findings also suggest directions for future research across sections, disciplines, and publication contexts.

Contextualizing the Bogardus Social Distance Scale: A case study in Sabah, Malaysia

2025-11-20T08:49:52+07:00

Since Park introduced the concept of social distance in 1924, a century ago, it has become a widely used framework for understanding intergroup relationships, not only in the United States but also globally. Over the years, the concept has evolved alongside the instruments used to measure it. Notably, the Bogardus Social Distance Scale (1925) remains foundational, although it has undergone numerous adaptations, including integration with Likert-type scales, to enhance its applicability across diverse contexts. However, in the Malaysian context, particularly in the state of Sabah, the scale remains limited in capturing the nuanced dynamics of ethnic and religious relationships. Studies conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2021 that applied the Bogardus scale revealed its insufficiency in reflecting local social realities. To address this gap, this study aims to enhance the applicability of the Bogardus scale by identifying culturally relevant items specific to Sabah. A qualitative synthesis of 71 academic papers was conducted, resulting in the identification of 21 additional measurement items suited to the Sabah context. Furthermore, the inclusion of a “festival” item is proposed to reflect a critical dimension of intergroup social engagement. This article presents both theoretical and practical advancements in the measurement of social distance by offering an expanded scale tailored to multicultural societies. The findings have potential applications in other pluralistic societies worldwide.

Transforming performance subjectivity under generative AI: On the authenticity and simulacra of virtual performance

2025-11-18T09:52:13+07:00

The continuous evolution of digital technology has driven a profound transformation in the performing arts. As a technology-driven artistic form, virtual performance is reshaping the logic of subjectivity and authenticity within performance practice. Drawing on Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra theory as its analytical framework, this article examines the problem of authenticity in virtual performance and the underlying logic that sustains it. By analyzing the stage-by-stage development of virtual performance, the study explores how it becomes detached from the physical body, reconstructs human emotions and behaviours through algorithms and symbolic systems, and challenges the authenticity paradigm of traditional performance. The findings indicate that the evolution of virtual performance has progressively shifted from mimetic representation to autonomous symbolic production. Its logic of authenticity no longer depends on physical reproduction; rather, it is constituted through a dynamic “two-way mapping relationship” enabled by technological re-encoding and the self-referential operation of symbolic systems. Although virtual performance expands the boundaries of artistic expression, excessive reliance on simulacral generation may result in the erosion of experiential reality and the hollowing out of artistic authenticity. Furthermore, while generative AI endows virtual performances with the capacity for ‘self-programming’, it simultaneously intensifies the tension between technological rationality and humanistic values. Accordingly, this study advocates the development of an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, the optimization of integrative pathways between technology and the humanities, and the reconstruction of an evaluative system for audience authenticity grounded in perceptual, cognitive, and affective dimensions. It emphasizes that the sustainable reconstruction of artistic authenticity can be achieved only through a critical balance between technological innovation and humanistic reflection.

The collection of identity patterns and the development of the pottery pattern stamping rollers of Ban Na Wat Lai Community in Sukhothai Province, Thailand

2025-12-02T14:06:17+07:00

This research aimed to 1) study the identity of the imprinted patterns on pottery of the Ban Na Wat Lai Community, Thung Luang Sub-district, Khiri Mat District, Sukhothai Province, 2) design the pottery pattern stamping rollers, and 3) propose guidelines for developing the pottery pattern stamping rollers of Ban Na Wat Lai Community, Thailand. The researchers studied documents and research related to the collection of pattern identities and the development of the pottery pattern stamping rollers in the Ban Na Wat Lai Community, surveyed data on attitudes and needs regarding the development of the pottery pattern stamping rollers, designed the pottery pattern stamping rollers using 3D models, produced a prototype of the pottery pattern stamping rollers using 3D printing technology, and evaluated the pottery pattern stamping rollers’ development using a questionnaire on opinions toward the development of the pottery pattern stamping rollers of the Ban Na Wat Lai Community. The data were then analyzed by calculating the mean and standard deviation of the questionnaire. The sample group was 30 pottery producers in the Ban Na Wat Lai Community. The data analyzed revealed that Model 3 of the pottery pattern stamping rollers achieved the highest ranking. This is because, at the selection stage, it has beautiful patterns; during application, it creates sharp patterns on pottery; and throughout use, it offers a comfortable handle. The study’s findings and suggestions for further research are also discussed.

Concepting virtual tour using panoramic photography as tourism promotional media for the Maimun area, Indonesia

2025-12-26T11:19:09+07:00

Indonesia has many cultural heritage sites, such as the Maimun area in Medan, North Sumatra, with the potential to become tourist destinations. This area is a historical site designated as a cultural heritage and has attracted the attention of investigators due to the urgency of developing a Virtual Reality (VR)-based tourism promotion medium. The option to develop a virtual tour as a technology-based tourism promotion allows information to be packaged in a more informative and interactive manner. Therefore, this research aimed to describe the principles of panoramic photography in conceptualizing a virtual tour to build user understanding while enjoying 360-degree panoramic visualization. Quantitatively, questionnaires were distributed to young people as respondents to determine the views on the cultural value potential of the Maimun area. Qualitatively, the analysis of the virtual tour concept applied landscape photography genres and compositional theory to establish depth and direct viewer attention through perspective. The results showed that the conceptualization of a 360-degree virtual tour using panoramic photography adopted a variety of high-angle and eye-level shooting methods. This was carried out because the concept was necessary to show details of the exterior and interior of buildings, ornaments, park areas, monuments, and public spaces. Meanwhile, variations applied one-point, two-point, and three-point perspectives in a balanced manner. This research was expected to serve as an academic reference for designing tourism promotion media within the concept of a 360-degree panoramic virtual tour to transmit cultural messages, while supporting the development of creative economic products.

Green supplier selection using the analytic hierarchy process: Evidence from the paper food packaging industry in Bangkok and surrounding provinces

2025-11-26T15:41:08+07:00

This study develops a systematic decision-making framework for green supplier selection in the food packaging industry by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Growing environmental awareness and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements have intensified the need for structured approaches to evaluating suppliers based on sustainability criteria. However, industry-specific green supplier selection frameworks remain limited. To address this gap, a two-phase methodology is employed. First, the Delphi method is used to identify and validate supplier selection criteria through expert consensus. Second, the AHP is applied to conduct a multicriteria decision analysis. Eight industry experts from three food packaging companies participated in both the criteria identification and supplier evaluation processes. The Delphi analysis yielded six validated green supplier selection criteria: green raw materials usage (C1), green products (C2), green service quality (C3), green image (C4), green certification (C5), and green compliance (C6). The AHP findings revealed that green certification (C5) is the most influential criterion across all three companies, with importance weights of 0.407, 0.459, and 0.460, respectively, followed by green compliance (C6) as the second-highest priority. The supplier evaluation results identified the optimal suppliers for each company as SA3 (0.378), SB2 (0.396), and SC2 (0.399), with SC2 achieving the highest overall performance score. Consistency ratio (CR) testing confirmed the reliability of the decision-making process, with all CR values below 0.10, thereby validating the methodological rigor of the proposed framework. Overall, the findings demonstrate that formal environmental standards and regulatory compliance are the primary drivers of supplier selection in the food packaging sector. This framework provides practitioners with an evidence-based tool to support sustainable supplier selection decisions and contributes to the sustainable supply chain management literature by offering an industry-specific approach that balances environmental objectives with operational requirements.

Developing a caregiver training curriculum to enhance early childhood safety skills in Thai child development centers in Nakhon Pathom Province

2026-01-27T12:35:56+07:00

The study responded to the need to strengthen caregivers’ competency in providing learning experiences to promote early childhood safety skills (ECSSs) in child development centers affiliated with local administrative organizations in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. It aimed 1) to develop a competency-based training curriculum for caregivers, 2) to verify the curriculum’s effectiveness in enhancing caregivers’ knowledge, ability, and experience provision plans, and 3) to investigate the possibility of expanding the curriculum for use in other centers. The study adopted four R&D stages of research, namely, baseline study (R1), curriculum drafting and verification (D1), effectiveness verification (R2), and curriculum revision (D2). Mean scores, standard deviations, and t-tests were employed in analyzing the quantitative data. It was found that the developed curriculum consisted of eight essential components: curriculum problems and importance, principles, objectives, contents, training activities, period, training materials, and evaluation. The training followed a structured five-stage model involving case study analysis, collaborative idea exploration, problem-solving, safety skill development, and presentation. After the training, the caregivers participating in the training program gained statistically higher knowledge and understanding of learning experience organization for child safety (p < .01), and their ability to prepare and carry out the learning plans was rated at a high to a very high level. The children in the centers also developed significantly improved safety skills to a high level after their caregivers’ learning application of the training. The curriculum was successfully applied in two other child development centers, confirming its potential for adaptation and relevancy. The findings indicate that the curriculum effectively enhanced the caregivers’ competencies and contributed to the promotion of ECSSs in child development centers.

A model of developing the potential of health tourism to promote well-being for older adults in tourist destinations along the Thai-Cambodian border, Sisaket province

2026-01-27T12:39:33+07:00

The purposes of this research were to 1) assess the potential of health tourism destinations, 2) survey the demand for health tourism activities, and 3) develop health tourism models to promote health for the older adults in Thai-Cambodian border tourist destinations in Sisaket province. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach. The samples included 1) 60 representatives from the public and private sectors, 2) 400 older tourists, and 3) 20 older volunteer tourists. The instruments were 1) an evaluation form, 2) a questionnaire, and 3) a semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis techniques. The findings revealed that the overall score of health tourism destination was high (4.06), the highest average rating was attractions, followed by activities, accessibility, facilities, and accommodations. In addition, the main purpose of older tourists was to relax, they travel twice a year to natural destinations. Their family and relatives influenced their decision-making. They preferred traveling independently by private cars and stay overnight, and taking journey as convenient. Their expenditure per trip was over 5,000 THB. They would travel with family/relatives and on their own. The demand for health tourism activities was consisted of Thai massage, aromatic oil therapy, Vipassana meditation, skincare products, herbal health foods and drinks, Thai massage demonstrations, foot massage, herbal compress treatment, yoga or physical exercises, herbal steam baths, massage machines, mineral baths, and fish spa. The study suggested eight health tourism models to promote well-being for older tourists in the Thai-Cambodian border area, Sisaket province. The models included: 1) Thai traditional massage, 2) foot massage, 3) herbal knee and stomach compresses, 4) foot soaking in herbal decoction and walking barefoot on volcanic rocks, 5) practicing 15 Ruesi Dat Ton postures, 6) Buddhist chanting and meditation, 7) vegetarian food and beverages, and 8) herbal health and beauty products.

Connecting tourism, archaeological heritage and education: A journey towards sustainability

2025-11-25T10:52:14+07:00

This paper examines the intersection of tourism, archaeological heritage and education within projects and research initiatives that promote sustainable management policies. Its primary aim is to identify experiences and strategies that balance heritage, tourism, and education, granting them equal relevance in objectives, outcomes, and implications. An integrative systematic review was conducted using the PICOC framework to define research questions and the PRISMA protocol to guide the meta-analysis. Data were extracted from the Web of Science database for the period 2020–2024, resulting in a final sample of 35 studies. The review reveals a strong commitment to conserving and promoting archaeological heritage through diverse actions, such as the provision of educational resources and training programmes, fostering sustainable cultural tourism, and facilitating educational tourism experiences. Most of the initiatives advocate integrated management policies that reinforce each other when combined. These findings underscore the importance of holistic approaches that align heritage conservation with educational and tourism objectives, contributing to sustainable cultural development. This study highlights the need to broaden research efforts aimed at determining an appropriate balance among the different management policies, including administrative, economic, educational, cultural and social dimensions.