The Factors Affecting the Characteristics of Self-Directed Learning of the Students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University

Abstract

          The purposes of this research of studying the factors affecting self-directed learning of the students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University were to: 1) study the characteristics of self-directed learning of the students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University 2) compare the characteristics of self-directed learning of the students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University based on the variables: gender, year of study, learning program, and learning outcome and 3) to analyze the factors affecting self- directed learning of the students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University.
          The sample group consisted of 400 students: the first to fifth year of Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University in the 2nd semester, academic year 2012 by Stratified Random Sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire with five levels of rating scale based on the factors affecting self-directed learning of the students from Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University. The statistical analysis employed were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t- test, ANOVA, and LISREL which was used for analyzing the correspondence between the model and the empirical data.
          The results of the study were:
          1) The sample group had the characteristics of self-directed learning at the highest level ( = 3.80) and (S.D. = 3.96). When analyzing each topic, the mean of opportunity of learning was the highest ( = 4.28) along with fondness for learning ( = 3.96) and self- concept of being an effective learner ( = 3.94).
          2) The analysis of comparing mean of the characteristics of self-directed learning based on the variable of learning program and the analysis of comparing mean based on the variable of learning outcome were significantly different at the 0.05 level. When comparing mean based on the variable of gender and the variable of year of study, they were not different.

          3) The model of factors affecting the characteristics of self-directed learning corresponds to the empirical data: 2 = 62.262, df. = 53, p = .077, GFI = .978, AGFI = .950, and RMR = .009.