A Study on the Factors Affecting Decision-Making in the Selection of Establishments for Cooperative Education Training Among Cosmetic Science Students at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the decision-making process of students in selecting a cooperative education workplace, specifically among students in the Cosmetic Science program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao. The research focuses on personal background variables, including gender, age, cumulative GPA, year of study, and the current or intended cooperative education placement. In addition, the study examines five key influencing factors: perception, motivation, attitude, goals, and beliefs and values. The target population consists of third- and fourth-year students, totaling 117 participants. This study employs a quantitative research approach using a survey research design. The research instrument is a structured questionnaire. The personal information section consists of close-ended (checklist) questions, while the section assessing the five influencing factors utilizes a five-point Likert scale. Data was collected through an online questionnaire distributed to the target group. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study indicate that the majority of respondents were female. Most students were between the ages of 21 and 23 and had a cumulative GPA ranging from 3.00 to 4.00. The most selected cooperative education position was in Research and Development (R&D). All five investigated factorsperception, motivation, attitude, goals, and beliefs and valueswere found to significantly influence students decision-making processes, with each factor exerting a high level of impact. In terms of the relationship between personal background variables and the selection of a cooperative education workplace, the results indicated that gender, cumulative GPA, academic year, and the current or intended cooperative education position were all statistically significant factors. Notably, differences in beliefs and values were observed between male and female students, suggesting gender-based variations in decision-making processes. Furthermore, students with different GPA levels exhibited varying degrees of motivation and attitude. Differences in academic year were associated with variations. in both attitude and beliefs and values. Additionally, the factors of motivation, attitude, and beliefs and values were found to significantly influence students choices regarding specific cooperative education roles. A notable finding of this study is that students in the Cosmetic Science program tend to base their decisions regarding cooperative education placements on factors related to motivation, attitude, and beliefs and values.