Abstract:
Purposes of the Study The purpose of the research was to explore and examine the perception on basic values of cadets in the Royal Thai Armed Force Academies and the Police Academy. Specifically, comparisons were made on the perception among four forces, between the first (2nd year class) and the last year in each academy and between those from military including police and civil families. A research was stressed upon behaviors concerning the basic values and behavioral potential leading to actual practices. Methodology The perception on basic values of cadets in four forces were surveyed. The population of this study consisted of the cadets in the Royal Thai Armed Force Academies and the Police Academy. There were 327 cadets selected as samples in the process. The main instrument used to collect the data was questionnaires adjusted from those of the Office of the Committee of National Culture, the instrument was then adapted and revised by three experts. The data were analyzed by using statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). System showed percentage, arithmetic mean, standard devitation, T-test, F-test (Analysis of Variance) and the test of differences of each pair by Scheffe´s methods. Findings The findings of the study can be summed up as follow : 1. There was no difference among the cadets of the four forces perception on basic values, there was also no significance in any case (5 cases), this was congruent with the researchers hypothesis, due to homogeneity among the subjects. 2. When four forces were compared on five basic values, the result indicated that the following basic values were not different at .05 level, namely : self-reliance, diligence, economical habit, discipline and following the regulations, practicing according to the religious principles, love of country, religion and having loyalty to the king and his dynasty, there were no differences at the .05 level significance. 3. In comparison between two groups of cadets : the first year cadets and the last year cadets, the researcher found that the military cadets perception on five basic values were not different at .05 level significance. But the police cadets perception showed that there were differences at .01 level significance in economical habit, discipline and following the regulations, practicing according to the religious principles, love of country, religion and having loyalty to the king and his dynasty. 4. Comparison between two groups of cadets who were from military including police family and civil family, it was found that there were no differences at .05 level significance, namely self-reliance, diligence, economical habit, discipline and following the regulations, practicing according to the religious principles, love of country, religion, and having loyalty to the king and his dynasty. Conclusions The main conclusions, are as follow : 1. The cadets of four academies tend and adhere to the five basic values. 2. No differences were noted between the entering and graduating groups of cadets under the stydy. 3. The family status (military including police family and civil family) appears to have no influence on the cadets perception on the five basic values. Practical Recommenations The major recommendations for practical purposes encompass indoctrination of the basic values as follow : 1. Curriculum should be revised for the indoctrinating process more succinctly. 2. Recruitment of the most efficient and knowledgeable staff to work on basic values and recognitions of the facultys tasks integrating basic values in their subject matter are recommended. 3. One most important factor is the acceptance of the five basic values leading toe actual practice in different levels and follow up the cadets actual behavior. Research Recommendations Recommenations for future research are : 1. The further research should be made upon level of practicing according to basic values of the cadets in four forces. 2. Observation technique is necessary for basic values because this type of study must be better qualified than the survey research. 3. There should be further study about what other basic values that the staff can bring to indoctrinate the cadets of four forces. 4. There is a need to make a comparison between the cadets and the university students perception on basic values because the subjects are from different fields of study.