Abstract:
The objectives of the research are 1. to know the meaning and composition of sufficiencyconsuming
behavior and related variables, 2. to analyze the composition of the variables of
sufficiency-consuming behavior and other related variables, 3. to test the causation model of such
behavior, and 4) to study the effects of the training program to develop the perceived behavioral
control of masters degree Generation-Y students on sufficiency-consuming behavior. The research
consists of 4 phases. Phase 1 is a qualitative research, the objective being to study the meaning
and composition of sufficiency-consuming behavior including related variables of attitudes,
subjective norms, and intention of sufficiency-consuming behavior. Data are collected using indepth
interview with significant informants who represent masters degree Generation-Y students
born during 1980-1990 from 11 universities in Bangkok, two students from each university, and
analyzed using content analysis. Phase 2 is intended to analyze the variables of sufficiencyconsuming
behavior and related variables. Data are collected from 129 masters degree Generation-Y
students of Thammasat University and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis with LISREL
and exploratory factor analysis with SPSS. Phase 3 is intended to test the causation model of
sufficiency-consuming behavior, using the instruments developed from Phase 2. Data are collected
from 550 masters degree students from 10 state universities in Bangkok and analyzed using the
causation model with AMOS. The objective of Phase 4, on the other hand, is to study the effects
of the training program. It is an experimental research using the time series design and variables
with the most influence on sufficiency-consuming behavior taken from Phase 3-perceived behavioral
controlto develop a training program. The experimental group consists of 15 workers and operators
from the public and private sector. Data are analyzing using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS.
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The findings from Phase 1 show that the meaning and composition of sufficiency- consuming
behavior are that spending for goods and service is in line with a persons ability, i.e. not overspend,
plan and administer spending taking into consideration money-worth, quality and benefits rather
than brand names. This aspect is composed of the sub-category of behaviors: resisting the trends,
making comparisons, consuming as necessary, and knowing the value of the asset. The variable
of attitude toward sufficiency-consuming behavior means the thinking and feeling of the consumer
about such behavior, consisting of 3 important elements: a balanced life, self-development, and
relationship with others. The subjective norms mean the consumer behavior reflecting the notion of
sufficiency based on the thinking and action of intimate or significant persons, i.e. H.M. the King,
own family and peers. The variable of perceived behavioral control means the consumers ability
to resist and control his/her desire for goods/service, including the ability to control spending
appropriate to his/her income level, while the variable of the intention of sufficiency behavior is
taken to mean the consumers intention to show future sufficiency behavior.
The finding of Phase 2 reveal that sufficiency-consuming behaviors consist of 5 major
elements : knowing the worth of the asset, searching for information, making comparisons, resisting
the trend, and consuming as necessary. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yields Eigenvalues
of 1.884-3.297. All the 5 elements can account for 60.141% of the variance. The attitude toward
sufficiency-consuming behavior consists of 3 elements : self-development, financial security, and
relationship with others. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yields Eigenvalues of 2.527-2.813,
accounting for 57.935% of the variance. The next set of findings is the subjective norms consisting of
3 major elements : H.M. the King, family and peers. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yields
Eigenvalues of 2.276-5.72. The three elements can account for 63.919% of the variance. In addition,
the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the perceived control behavior model reveals statistical
values of 2 = 34.89, df = 29, 2 /df = 1.2031, RMSEA = 0.040, RMR = 0.0544, CFI = 0.987,
NFI = 0.936, and a P-value = .20813. The final finding is the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)
of the model measuring the sufficiency-consuming intention, revealing statistical values for the
sufficiency-consuming intention model of 2 = 11.98, df = 8, 2 /df = 1.4975, RMSEA = 0.062,
RMR = 0.0095, CFI = 0.99, NFI = 0.98, and a P-value = .15211.
The findings of Phase 3 show that the adjusted values of the causation model affecting the
sufficiency-consuming behavior of masters degree students of state universities in Bangkok are
2 /df = 1.746, RMSEA = 0.037, RMR = 0.036 and CFI = 0.906. Based on all the statistics, it
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is found that every value passes the criteria in consideration, i.e. the causation model influencing
the sufficiency-consuming behavior of the masters degree students of state universities in Bangkok.
The adjusted value can account for 61% of the sufficiency-consuming behavior of Generation Y.
The findings of Phase 4 indicate that the sufficiency-consuming behaviors of the employees
and entrepreneurs of the public and private organizations receiving the perceived behavioral
control training at different times show a statistically significant value of .01. The paired comparison
based on the Bonferroni method reveals that the employees and entrepreneurs of public and private
organizations receiving the training have a statistically significant difference of sufficiency-consuming
behavior at .05 in 3 pairs. After week 2 of the experiment, the trainees show a sufficiency-consuming
behavior ( X = 3.97) greater than before the experiment ( X = 2.88). In the second pair, after week 2
of the experiment, the trainees show a sufficiency-consuming behavior ( X = 3.97) greater than
after week 1 of the experiment ( X = 3.38). In the final pair after week 1 of the experiment, the
trainees show a sufficiency-consuming behavior ( X = 3.38) greater than before the experiment
( X = 2.88)