Problems concerning the use of books and library materials for research in political science at the master degree level during the academic year 1967-1974
Abstract:
The study intends to examine the problems of using books, library materials and particularly the problems of using library for writing the thesis in the fulfillment of the Master Degree of Political Science and Public Administration at Thammasat University and the National Institute of Development Administration(NIDA) respectively. It's main objective is to come up with a set of recommendations and means to solve the problems for the libraries in their activities of acquiring books and materials. The samples include 172 holders of Master's Degree in Political Science from Thammasat University and Master's Degree of Public Administration from the National Institute of Development Administration during academic years 1967-1974, as well as 196 graduate students enrolled in the academic years 1975-1976. The study surveys the bibliographies cited in those theses and examines the problems in using those materials by sending questionnaires to the two groups of students of Thammasat University and the National Institute of Development Administration. The data in the returned questionnaires are then analyzed and presented in percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Research results shove that the researching students use eight types of books and printed materials which include general text books, reference books, government publications, laws, documents, theses, periodicals and newspapers. Most of the theses under study cite general books in the Thai language, followed by those using general books in English. The study also discovers that the students of the two institutions use Thai books more than English ones, except for reference publications. Most of the surveyed researchers use Thammasat University Central Library and that of the National Institute of Development Administration. In general, both groups of the researchers have no serious problems of using books and printed materials. However, their problems can be summarized as follows: text books in Thai and translated books are of small number; reference books are not allowed to borrow from the library; complete lists of Thai government publications are not available; there are no tools for searching government documents; it is not convenient to use government documents because they are locked on shelve and have to be made accessible by the clerk in charge; and no service for searching for government documents. Most of the researchers in both universities understand and utilize the methods of searching for information from books, articles and periodicals relevant to their researches fairy well. Recommendations: Educational institutes and other concerned organizations should encourage scholars to translate more text books; social science libraries should. cooperate in organizing social science works by sharing the responsibility based on subjects and disciplines; government publications should be collected as completely as possible and with perfect tools for searching; interlibrary-loan services for unpublished, quality theses should be encouraged; and the better-endowed libraries should invest in mocrofilm collection as a measure against lost or deterioration of precious materials. Besides, libraries should organize an orientation session or produce library handbooks for distribution so that the students can correctly utilize the library services. Libraries should also have an efficiency reference service. Last but not least, libraries should provide study carrels, auditorium, and discussion rooms for graduate students.