Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to evaluate Thai biographies published from 1932 1980. The hypothesis is that a great number of Thai biographical writings were published in various kinds during that time, but most of them are not qualified in contend and format. This research is limited on 2 types of biographical writings, the biography and the autobiography. Population in this research are Thai biographies 0n open shelves in the National Library and 5 central university libraries in Bangkok. The Total number of books evaluated are 336 title : 274 biographies and 62 autobiographies. Two criteria are used to evaluate each kind of biographical writings. The criteria are built from theories and data collected from books, thesis, articles in both Thai and English and interviews. Each criterian is devided into 6 aspects : format, reliability, content, presentation of content, special features and printing. The books evaluated get points according to their qualities. The data are analysed by statistical methods in the form of percentage, mean, standard deviation and normal curve. The Z test is also used to test the proportions in quality at critical region .05. The results 0f this research presented by grading show that most of Thai biographies are at medium grade in quality. According to 6 aspects of biographical writing mentioned above, most of the biographies and autobiographies are at good grade in content and are at medium grade in others aspects. The 0nly difference is in reliability that biographies are at medium grade but autobiographies are at low grade. A great number of biographies are unqualified to be counted at good grade in special features. On the contrary, they can be counted at good grade because of their contents. The qualifications that appear in most of Thai biographies and autobiographies are : introduction or preface ; interesting person s life ; direct and concise language ; correct and truthful informations on person s history, place and time ; and appropriate book face. On the other hand, the qualifications that appear in a small number of both biographies and autobiographies are : informations on writers : record of information sources in the form of footnote and biographies ; special features (index, map, chart and appendix ) ;and high quality papers. Some suggestions for improving Thai biographies are :- The writer should realize the qualification of good biographies and use them as a guide for their works. Besides, he should record the information sources in the form of footnote and biography, and make date analysis before use. The publisher should increase budgets on publishing biographies and suggest the writers produce qualified works. The librarian should provide qualified biographies for the library and made them known to the users. Besides, he should make their comments on Thai biographical writings to publishers and suggest them some advantageous ways for their good works.