Humanity and Social Science Journal, Ubon Ratchathani University

The Communication Elements and Language Strategies in Responding to Dhamma-Related Questions in “Miss Parian 9” Program

2024-09-11T15:21:48+07:00

This research aims to examine the communication elements present in Miss Parian (Pariyat) 9 Program and to analyze the language strategies used in responding to Dhamma-related questions. Data were collected from six episodes published on the YouTube channel-Prairie Phaiwan. The findings reveal that all eight elements of communication are evident in the program and contribute to understanding the communication context, playing a role in shaping the language used. Two primary language strategies were identified in responding to Dhamma-related questions: the direct-response strategy and the evasive-response strategy. Both strategies primarily serve to convey information related to Dhamma and also contribute to making the responses in Miss Parian 9 more engaging and accessible to the audience.

The Detective’s Bare Life and the State of Exception in Christopher G. Moore’s Vincent Calvino Crime Series

2024-08-14T09:50:15+07:00

This is a study of Christopher G. Moore’s crime series, featuring Vincent Calvino, a lawyer-turned-detective from New York City, who has relocated to Bangkok. The series is examined as an example of the hard-boiled tradition, which emerged between the two World Wars in response to the particular social, economic and political conditions in the United States. The study places an emphasis on the detective character in Moore’s crime series of seventeen novels, suggesting that he is regarded as “bare life” or “homo sacer,” which cannot be sacrificed, but may be killed with impunity. This character, as Giorgio Agamben postulates, is confined in a zone of indistinction between zoè, (the biological fact of having life) and bios (political or qualified life), between life and law. This zone is termed “state of exception” and is inhabited by the sovereign power, where the efficacy of law is suspended while the force of law is enacted. Eventually, Agamben’s concept of the use-of-self is proposed to epistemologically liberate bare life from the conundrum of its existence. This suggests that in order to release oneself from wretched conditions, one needs to abandon physical activity and resort to contemplation and inactivity, which constitutes the use of the soul according to the logos.

The Christian Life: Conceptual Metaphors in Protestant Worship Songs

2024-12-04T09:37:33+07:00

This article aims to analyze metaphorical expressions reflecting conceptual metaphors of life found in Protestant Christian worship songs, based on the conceptual metaphor theory of Lakoff & Johnson (1980), Gibbs (1994), and Kövecses (2002). The data were collected from 265 worship songs. The findings revealed 11 conceptual metaphors relating to life, namely: LIFE IS A JOURNEY, LIFE IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT, LIFE IS A COMPETITION, LIFE IS EDUCATION/LEARNING, LIFE IS AN ENCLOSED SPACE, LIFE IS A BUILDING, LIFE IS A PLANT, LIFE IS WATER/A WATER SOURCE, LIFE IS A DRAMA, LIFE IS DEBT, and LIFE IS A PERIOD OF TIME. These metaphors reflect the Christian worldview and conceptualization of life in alignment with Christian teachings.

Understanding Urbanity through Food Precarity of Daily-wage Workers in Bangkok

2024-05-16T09:23:20+07:00

Studying the urban experience through the food choices of daily-wage workers provides insight into the daily challenges, particularly during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the various channels available for accessing food in urban areas, the economic conditions of daily-wage workers pose a significant obstacle to their ability to access the food system. As a result, these daily-wage workers are not immune to food shortages but possess a keen awareness of the nutritional value of different foods. However, the instability of their income forces them to prioritise economic needs over nutrition and food quality, putting them at risk of a poor quality of life. Many of these workers come from families involved in agricultural food production. Still, their employment in urban areas forces them to limit their food consumption and work hard to earn enough money for each meal.

Sustainable Model of Community Health Behavior: A Post-COVID-19 Case Study

2024-06-13T16:10:40+07:00

The objectives of this research are: (1) to examine community health behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to identify the factors influencing sustainable community health behaviors during the pandemic; and (3) to develop a model of sustainable community health behavior to support future disease outbreaks. A phenomenological qualitative method was applied through in-depth interviews with 44 participants. The data were analyzed using content analysis, including coding, categorization, and identifying key themes. Triangulation was used to ensure the validity of the findings. The findings revealed that: (1) community behaviors during and after the pandemic differed significantly in both social and psychological dimensions. The social and mental health aspects of community life have become part of the “new normal”; (2) seven factors were found to influence community health behavior: physical environment, psychological environment, personal psychological traits, perception of crisis-related information, crisis management, leadership, and governance; and (3) these factors were synthesized into a model of sustainable community health behavior for future public health crises. The model includes community-based crisis management, establishment of preventive measures, surveillance and screening, intercommunity collaboration, community checkpoints, mental health recovery systems, public health information sharing based on factual data, and the development of strategic health risk management plans emphasizing genuine community participation.

The Use of Digital Technology among Elderly People in Songkhla Province

2024-05-24T14:04:44+07:00

This article aims to examine the problems and underlying causes related to the use of digital technology among elderly people in Songkhla Province. The study employed qualitative research methods and collected data through focus group discussions with purposively selected participants, as well as through participatory observation.

The findings can be categorized into three main issues: 1) Knowledge and Understanding: The elderly have difficulty understanding the meaning of symbols on digital devices and lack knowledge on how to use and access beneficial applications or websites. 2) Readiness for Use: They face physical limitations, such as vision problems and slower learning, which contrast with the rapid responsiveness of digital devices. 3) Skills: The elderly lack effective time management skills when using digital devices, often receive and share misinformation, fall victim to online scams, and are susceptible to believing fake news. It was found that the deterioration of physical abilities, particularly impaired vision and slower cognitive processing, were major factors affecting digital technology usage, consistently reflected across all three issues. Additional factors included negative attitudes toward technology, loneliness, and a lack of digital literacy. The findings of this study will support the development of appropriate digital intelligence enhancement programs tailored for the elderly in the area.

A Comparative Study of Legal Wildlife Species and Legal Awareness among Local Forest Product Traders in the Thai–Lao Border Markets: A Case Study of Chiang Rai, Phayao, and Nan Provinces

2024-09-17T15:32:24+07:00

This article aims to assess the legal awareness of government officials, import-export operators, and the general public regarding compliance with international wildlife laws. It also seeks to compare the wildlife species listed under Thai and Lao PDR wildlife laws as well as the CITES agreement. Furthermore, the study proposes policy recommendations for wildlife law enforcement in the Thai–Lao border areas—specifically Chiang Rai, Phayao, and Nan provinces—in the context of border trade. Using empirical legal research methods, the study found that: (1) Legal violations often result from confusion over the differing lists of wildlife and plant species, making it difficult to identify which species are illegal under Thai, Lao, and international law (CITES); (2) The growth of tourism and border economies has stimulated increased trade in local wildlife and plant products; and (3) Confusion surrounding goods traded at “relaxed border trade zones” has led many members of the public to mistakenly believe such products are legally permitted.

The research suggests that the government should prepare officials at all levels at various border trade points to accurately identify illegal wildlife and plant products based on species classification. In addition, pictorial signs of protected species should be clearly displayed. Relevant international agencies from both Thailand and Lao PDR should jointly review and update the wildlife species lists at the regional level every three to five years. Moreover, the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) should be incorporated as an annex to the Act on Administrative Penalties B.E. 2565 (2022).

Incorporating the Biological Vulnerability and Dependency of Victims as an Aggravating Factor in Assault Offenses under the Thai Penal Code

2025-03-13T16:22:31+07:00

This research aims to (1) study and analyze the issues concerning aggravating factors related to the victim under Section 296 in conjunction with Section 289 of the Thai Penal Code; (2) comparatively analyze the treatment of assault offenses that incorporate victim-related factors as aggravating circumstances under the laws of Thailand and selected foreign countries; and (3) propose amendments to the Penal Code that incorporate biological vulnerability of the victim as an aggravating circumstance in assault offenses.

The study found that Sections 296 and 289 of the Thai Penal Code, which govern serious forms of assault, do not consider the biological vulnerability of the victim as an aggravating factor. However, when compared with the criminal codes of other countries—namely the United States, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, and Vietnam—it is evident that these jurisdictions provide special protection for biologically vulnerable victims and consider such vulnerability as an aggravating factor in assault offenses. The researcher therefore recommends amending the relevant provisions of the Penal Code to include the biological vulnerability of the victim as a serious circumstance and to impose harsher penalties accordingly. This would enhance the effectiveness of punishment as a deterrent—one of the core principles in preventing and controlling crime.

The Route from Ban Kut Phueng to Ban Phlap and the Interrelations among Communities in the Phu Phan Mountain Range

2025-04-18T15:03:18+07:00

This article aims to study the historical route from the mountain pass at Ban Kut Phueng, Kut Phueng Subdistrict, Suwannakhuha District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, to Ban Phlap, Ban Phue Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province. This route was significant for the transportation of goods and natural resources during the 22nd to 24th Buddhist centuries (approximately the 17th to 19th centuries CE). The study employs geographical surveys, archaeological analysis, and historical methodology.
Findings reveal that the area along the route from Ban Kut Phueng to Ban Phlap was home to ancient communities and served as a corridor for travel and communication. Archaeological evidence found along this route exhibits vernacular artistic styles influenced by Lan Xang culture, which developed from the 22nd Buddhist century onward. Ban Phlap functioned as a commercial hub where goods were collected before being transported by ox cart to Tha Bo and Wiang Khuk towns. The mountain pass at Ban Kut Phueng served as a transit route linking Suwannakhuha with towns in the Mueang Phan area. Intercommunity relations during the 22nd to 24th Buddhist centuries were evident in shared worship of the Buddha’s footprint at Phu Pha Daeng Mountain, communal traditional activities, and a shared belief in ethnic unity. These communities were later impacted by internal political instability within the Lan Xang Kingdom and the conflict between Vientiane and Rattanakosin, leading to the abandonment of settlements along the route. Following the restoration of peace, people began to return and revive the communities along the route from the early 25th Buddhist century (approximately the 20th century CE) onward.

Conditions and Guidelines for Learning Management for Teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission in the Era of Disruptive Technology

2025-01-23T10:10:18+07:00

The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the current conditions of learning management among teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in the era of disruptive technology, and (2) to identify guidelines for effective learning management for OBEC teachers in this era. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 56 teachers were selected through purposive sampling, including 45 teachers from the Phayao Primary Educational Service Area Office 1 and 11 from the Phayao Secondary Educational Service Area Office. The data collection instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, with an item-objective congruence (IOC) value ranging from 0.60 to 1.00 and a reliability coefficient of 0.83. In the second phase, the target group consisted of 20 teachers with expertise in learning management in the era of disruptive technology. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, also with IOC values ranging from 0.60 to 1.00. The findings revealed that: (1) Among various aspects of learning management, collaborative learning received the highest average score. (2) Regarding the guidelines for learning management, it was found that administrators and teachers should possess skills in learning management that enable students to develop life skills through real-life experiences. Instruction should integrate appropriate technologies, promote creativity, support inclusive learning, and emphasize individual differences. Learning management should also involve family and community participation in planning, incorporate community-based learning, and utilize modern classrooms equipped with technological tools that meet learners’ needs.

Tea: Global Commodity Chains and Women Workers in the Tea Production Processes of India and Thailand

2024-08-23T09:25:14+07:00

This article aims to examine the structural relationships within the global commodity chain of tea and their effects on the roles of women workers involved in tea production for international markets. India, the world’s second-largest tea producer, is a key case where women working on tea plantations have become a prominent image associated with Indian tea. Meanwhile, tea production in Thailand has expanded significantly in recent years, in line with rising domestic consumption. The study of tea commodity chains in India and Thailand seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the components and relationships at each stage of the chain. This study integrates gender role theory and the concept of labor transformation to analyze and compare the roles of women workers in the tea industries of both countries. The research is based on document analysis and interviews with stakeholders in Assam, India, and Chiang Rai, Thailand. Findings indicate that the structure of the tea commodity chain in India differs significantly from that in Thailand. In India, tea is sold through a centralized auction system where producers do not interact directly with buyers. In contrast, Thailand lacks such a system, allowing producers to market their products directly to consumers or buyers. These differences in market structure influence the roles of women in each context. In India, women primarily serve as tea leaf pickers and hold limited economic roles. In Thailand, however, women not only work on tea plantations but also participate in marketing activities. However, social practices have defined domestic roles as women's primary responsibility in both India and Thailand.

Creating Social Engagement through Interactive Documentaries

2024-05-09T09:32:14+07:00

The purposes of documentary films are to reveal the reality of everyday life and present factual content on screen using various presentation methods to enhance engagement, such as cinematography, editing techniques, narration, music, among others. Documentaries portray real-life events and credible facts. They also communicate social issues, raise awareness in society, and foster consciousness and participation to drive social change. In the past, documentary media traditionally served as a one-way communication tool—through watching, listening, and reading—to convey stories and promote changes in society in line with the documentary’s objective. This reflects the significant role of documentary films in contributing to social transformation.

In recent years, scholars have applied documentary film theory to develop new forms of digital media through two-way communication. This shift emphasizes interactivity and audience experience. The emergence of interactive documentaries represents the use of new digital techniques to foster awareness and engagement by integrating interactivity with storytelling. This includes varying levels of audience participation in the narrative and different methods of interaction via digital platforms and online channels, presenting a new alternative in media. Moreover, interactive documentaries contribute to the creation of new forms of social engagement through digital media while still preserving the core objectives of traditional documentary filmmaking.