A Study of Democratic Values in Thai Youth

Abstract

This research aims to examine democratic values among Thai youth and propose suitable development approaches. The sample consists of 1,560 high school students from schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). The research tool is a 52-item questionnaire on democratic values, with a reliability score of 0.885. Data analysis methods include frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, cross-tabulation, one-way ANOVA, and pairwise comparison using Scheffe’s method.

The study found that the sampled youth's democratic values had an average score of 2.86 out of 4, which is considered to be at the level of “appreciation.” When analyzed by subcomponents, the highest average score was in the area of “respect for and acceptance of “diversity” (mean = 3.04), while the lowest was in “rationality” (mean = 2.69). In-depth analysis indicates that female and LGBTQ students exhibit higher democratic values than male students. Additionally, students in grade 12 display higher democratic values compared to those in grades 7 and 8. Youth from the Northern, Central, Eastern regions and Bangkok exhibit higher democratic values than those from the Northeastern and Southern regions. Recommendations for enhancing democratic values include reforming the Ministry of Education’s policies and fostering credibility and transparency in public administration, alongside fair law enforcement practices. Schools and other institutions should promote learning through activities that emphasize democratic processes, such as student councils, and integrate democratic values into the curriculum. Teachers should develop skills to link democratic values in their teaching, potentially through additional training. Additionally, public and private sectors should collaborate with the media to produce youth-accessible content aimed at fostering democratic values among young people.