Abstract:
This study aims at studying the Chinese behavior in Chang Mai municipal area in mass media exposure and finding out factors which assimilate the Chinese to Thai culture. The survey research methodology is used the data are gathered from the sampled group by the questionnaire. The sampled group consists of 148 people who were korn to Chinese fathers or mothers with Chinese nationality. They are 15 years of age and over, both male and female, have been living in Chaing Mai municipal area. The sampled group is selected by systematic and purposive sampling. The data are analyzed in percentage, analysis of variance, Chi-Square, correlations, T-test and Sign test. The research findings show that the frequency of mass media exposure such as to radio, newspapers, television and film has quite a substantive influence on the respondents attitudes and behaviors. Some particular mass media, such as radio and film are found affecting the daily Thai language usage. No specific mass medium is found influencing the holding of Thai and Chinese culture differently. Besides, the varying amount of the mass media exposure is found not affect the cultural assimilation of the respondents. Regarding, male and female respondents, there is no difference in cultural assimilation. Factors that are found related to cultural assimilation are age, education, occupation and bond within the ethic network. It is also found that it is not merely the mass media playing an important role in assimilating the Chinese to Thai culture, but other factors are essential for their adaption. The Chinese in Chiang Mai municipal area assimilate to Thai culture considerably good. This can be justified when most of respondents change their Chinese first and family names to Thai and they prefer to use Thai in communicating with other family members. Meanwhile, they still keep their ascestral tradition. Some suggestions for the mass media operation are offered. More emphasis should be place on the promotion of patriotism and Thai culture for the Chinese. Further research can be done in analyzing other factors establishing cultural assimilation as well as the adaptative behavior of other minority group in Thai society.