Abstract:
This research aimed to study factors that influence young students toward public mind of students. In this study, data are gathered by questionnaires answered by 342 students ranging from students in Mattayomsuksa 1 to Mattayomsuksa 6, who enrolled in the second semester of the academic year 2011-2012 at Bangbowitthayakhom school in Samutprakarn province. The questionnaires included questions asking about students public mind. The statistical measurements used in an analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Persons correlation and the multiple regression analysis, which conducted by taking a trial inquiry (try-out) on a group test of 30 people to find the correlation Alpha Coefficient using Cronbach method that yielded a reliability of 0.97.
The results revealed that:
1. Students at Bangbowithayakhom school have a high level of students public mind ( = 3.88, S.D. = 0.51). There are three items that had the highest means: the rate in which students help each other ( = 3.92, S.D. = 0.64), a positive intention toward social development ( = 3.88, S.D. = 0.5), and a dedication toward society ( = 3.83, S.D. = 0.60), respectively.
2. The Pearsons correlation between related factors and public mind of students showed that all the factors, students, families, schools/teachers, friends, societies and media, had positive influences on the public mind of students with a statistical significance of .01. However, in terms of forecasting efficiency, the multiple regression analysis gave multiple regression coefficients of 0.943 between each individual factor and public mind of students. All 6 factors together could explain public mind of students with a rate of 88.9%. Factors that had positive influences on public mind of students with statistical significance of .01 were friends, media, schools/teachers and families with beta weights of 0.275, 0.261, 0.207 and 0.144, respectively. However, student and social factors could not explain students public mind.