Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies

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

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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

Chotiwan Yaemkhayai, Piyanart Piyasatit — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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

Nathatai Manadee — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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

Wachirakiat Baothongchan, Supong Tangkiengsirisin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

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.

Connecting education, tourism and archaeology: A journey towards sustainability

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This paper analyzes the convergence of education, archaeological heritage, and tourism in studies and projects that promote sustainable management policies for the current scenario. The findings of an Integrative Systematic Review have been delineated. The objective of this study is to detect experiences and initiatives that manage to equate heritage, tourism, and education, giving them similar importance in their intentions, results, and implications through an integrated systematic review of the literature. An overarching commitment to the conservation and promotion of archaeological heritage characterizes these initiatives. They encompass a diverse spectrum of actions, including the deliberate provision of educational resources and training programs, the intention to foster sustainable cultural tourism, and the facilitation of experiences aligned with educational tourism. The PICOC strategy guided the formulation of the research questions. Concurrently, the PRISMA protocol was utilized to conduct the meta-analysis and extract the results from the Web of Science database during the period between 2020 and 2024. The findings from the final sample of 35 are encouraging, as the majority advocate a variety of management policies (administrative, economic, educational, cultural, social, etc.) which, when integrated, are reinforced and made operational. The research work has indicated the necessity to expand the scope of research focused on identifying a balance between the various management policies (administrative, economic, educational, cultural, social, etc).