Abstract:
This dissertation was aimed 1) to explore learning behaviors, life spending and life expectation; 2) to study factors relating to seeking opportunity and life expectation; and 3) to investigate the process, pattern of opportunity sought to life success among the residents in a slum in Bangkok. It was a mixed research classified into 2 patterns, i.e. a quantitative research conducted with 400 samples using descriptive statistics, percentage, means, standard deviation (S.D.) and multiple regression correlation coefficient statistics for collected data analysis. Also a qualitative research was conducted with 20 key informants by explaining and paying importance to social phenomenon arisen founded on content interpretation.
The results revealed that 56.5% of most slum residents were female. 40% were around 31- 45 years old. 29% were company employees. 54.5% were married/ co-habitation/divorce. 32.3% were educated in senior high school, vocational certificate or equivalent. With their learning behaviors, most slum residents were less interested in seeking knowledge. They were educated lower than standard criteria specified by the State. There was least endeavor to develop their skills to enhance their knowledge. It was found in their life spending that most slum residents lacked affection and unity, least cooperation with the public sectors and the community leaders. They struggled and did every way to raise their families. They were likely lacking orders, lacking self-discipline, lacking social responsibility, alcoholism, addiction, assembling for unlawful purposes, addicted to gambling, aggressive and violent. With regards to life expectation, it was found that most slum resident expected wealth, adequate money for daily life expenditures, ability to pay for their childrens education and hospital bills when being sick. They expected that they were safe in societies and they themselves and their families deserved wellbeing, good quality of life and spending life with happiness.
Factors relating to seeking opportunity and life expectation, the study revealed that the economic capital i.e. monetary capital was to have fund or monetary property, having properties and valuable things including various resources had relationship with seeking opportunity and life expectation at high level ( = 3.59; SD = 1.015). With social capital, which was being supported from families and relatives, being supported by various private networks such Foundations, Companies, and Philanthropic Organizations and so on, the state policy, including empowering people in the community had relationship with seeking opportunity and life expectation at high level ( = 3.65; SD = 1.024). Factors of learning involved being the experienced persons, owning knowledge and skills, learning about the ways to success of others and their applications had relationship with seeking opportunity and life expectation at high level ( = 3.64; SD = 1.070). Factors about the principles of Buddhadhamma involved thinking process with wisdom and careful reflections, regular practices, doing with love, diligence, industriousness, attentiveness, and doing with right thinking had relationship with seeking opportunity and life expectation at high level ( = 3.72; SD = 0.960). There was statistical significance less than 0.05 levels, owning the power of prediction or able to forecast variables at 84.6% (R2 =0.846).
As of the process, patterns of seeking opportunity to life success of the slum residents in Bangkok, it revealed that the pattern of seeking opportunity relied on internal factors involving empowerment, knowledge, conceptual framework, taking action, whereas the external factors were monetary capital, family, state policy, and network partners through the following process. They were setting goals with clarity which would be the targets which eased seeing and attachment. There were ways for real practices and the goals had to be real rather than dreams or the impossibility. This included to clearly specify time with planning for real practices added with focusing on success as targeted. There demanded clarity, frugality, efficiency, flexibility, changeability, high expedition, acceptable to all parties related, conflict-free, following plans with pursuits and progression check between practices and outcomes. This was to create conviction that all actions followed plans while evaluating whether plans, process, criteria and time-frame had been adhered to. Problem solving included observations on what were obstacles and what caused them. In analyzing problems, to what extent was their possibility, and their severities? It needed creating multiple choices for diverse alternatives and the evaluating them where directions should be taken or which was the most appropriate approach.