A Predictive Model of Factors Influencing First-Choice University Selection Among First-Year Students at Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing first-year students’ decision to select the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology as their first-choice university and to develop a predictive model for estimating the likelihood of such a decision. The population consisted of 980 first-year undergraduate students enrolled at the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology in the 2025 academic year. The sample comprised 375 students, selected using purposive sampling to ensure alignment with the research objectives. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) being a first-year student currently enrolled at the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, and (2) attending classes during the first week of the preparatory program. The independent variables included institutional image and quality (X1), Japanese-related context (X2), program characteristics (X3), educational cost (X4), family influence (X5), and social influence and institutional perception (X6). The dependent variable was the decision outcome, classified into two categories: selecting the institution as the first choice (Y=1) and not selecting it as the first choice (Y=0)
The results from the binary logistic regression analysis revealed that two factors were statistically significant. Institutional image and quality (X1) showed a positive relationship with the decision (Sig. = .006, Exp(B) = 2.081), indicating that more favorable perceptions increase the likelihood of selecting the institution as the first choice. In contrast, family influence (X5) had a negative relationship (Sig. = .014, Exp(B) = 0.724), suggesting a reduced likelihood of such a decision. The model achieved an overall classification accuracy of 84.4%. The predictive equation can be expressed as follows: Y = -2.051 + 0.733X1 - 0.322X5
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