Abstract:
This research aims to explore three key aspects: 1) the intricate details of students personal backgrounds; 2) the nuanced decision-making processes guiding students to pursue further studies in a Home Economics program; and 3) a comprehensive comparison of factors influencing the decision to continue their academic journey within the Home Economics program, specifically in Suphan Buri Province. The categorization methodology was intricately aligned with the relevance to the personal backgrounds of upper secondary school students. The study included 316 students from Matthayom 6 who were enrolled during the academic year 2023 in Suphan Buri Province. This research is quantitative using a questionnaire. Statistics used in data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-tests, and One-way ANOVA.
The research brought forth insightful findings: 1) Upper secondary school students aspiring to pursue further studies in the field of Home Economics in Suphan Buri Province were encouraged to articulate their preferences. Notably, females made up the majority, accounting for 64.24%, with 25.32% of all students opting for the Science-Mathematics curriculum. Additionally, most students had a cumulative GPA of 3.51 or higher, amounting to 47.46%. Moreover, 30.38% exhibited proficiency and interest in bakery; 95.89% resided in Suphan Buri Province; 23.73% accessed education information through Facebook and school guidance; and 29.43% had parents with a monthly income ranging from 15,001 to 25,000 Baht. 2) Upper secondary school students directly related to the choice of pursuing studies in Home Economics programs in Suphan Buri Province, highly commended the prospect (X̅ = 4.29, SD = 0.682). A granular breakdown revealed that extracurricular courses had the highest arithmetic mean (X̅ = 4.33, SD = 0.616), followed closely by the university reputation (X̅ = 4.32, SD = 0.682), and acceptable course expenses throughout the curriculum ranking the lowest (X̅ = 4.23, SD = 0.633). 3) Regarding academic planning, students showcased significant divergence in decision-making based on cumulative GPA, personal interest and mastery, and channels for receiving education information. However, factors like gender, hometown, and average monthly income of parents exhibited no statistically significant impacts on the choice of Home Economics programs in Suphan Buri Province, as revealed by statistical tests at the .05 level.