A Model of Measuring Levels of Buddhist Followers through Behavior Scores

Abstract

This research article has three objectives: 1) To find a clear meaning of the Thai word “Chaobuddh” (Buddhists) in the Buddhist scriptures, 2) to acquire and apply knowledge and ideas from the FICO’s Behavior scoring system, and 3) to create a model for measuring levels of being a Buddhist, following the FICO Scoring system’s guidelines. It was qualitative research mixed with experimental exercises. The experimental tool was built with the Google apps where data and evaluations were collected and made. Questionnaires were a type of multiple choices. The test result was presented in descriptive statistics. The research results were: 1) In Thai language, many words conveying the meaning of Chaobuddh, i.e., Buddhasasanikajon used widely without rules. In the Tipitaka, more than 35 of such words were found, e.g., “Parisa” “Sāvaka”. Following the meaning given in Sikkhāpadavibhamga of Pathamapārājika in the Vinayapitaka, a new Buddhist structure was proposed: Bhikkhu-Bhikkhunī (male-female monks), Sāmanera-Sāmanerī (male-female novices), Ārāmika-Ārāmikinī (male-female lay monastics), Upāsaka-Upāsikā (male-female lay devotees), and Grihastha (male-female lay followers). 2) FICO, a company in the USA, introduced a system called Behavior Scoring where clients’ behavioral data are analyzed and translated into scores. The system’s basic principle is that human behavior could be measured. 3) A model for measuring Buddhist levels was constructed, based on the FICO scoring system’s guidelines. Groups of Grihastha and Upāsaka-Upāsikā were chosen for testing. Two sets of questionnaires were created, one for each. Descriptive statistics and the Likert’s Five-Level scaling were used as the methodology for testing and result interpretations. Test results were: 14 in the poor-fair levels, 32 in the average level, 19 in the good-very good levels, and 2 with zero scores.