The Practices of Morality and Ethics in Accordance with the Buddhism Disciplines of the Juveniles in the Eastern Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to study and to compare the practices of morality and ethics in accordance with the Buddhism disciplines among the juveniles in eastern Thailand. The samples consisted of 1,600 people aged 14 -18 years old resided in the eastern provinces namely Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi, and Trat (400 each). The samples were selected by multi stage sampling method. The research instruments comprised questionnaires with the discrimination at .37-.80 and the reliability at .96. The data were analyzed by SPSS program with percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and pair comparison with LSD. The result revealed as follows:

1. The practices of morality and ethics in accordance with the Buddhism disciplines among the juveniles in eastern Thailand was high in overall manner (=4.18, SD =.46). When considered by aspects, the study revealed that all 6 aspects were at high levels: gratitude (=4.46, SD =.51), order and self-discipline (=4.34, SD =.58), obedience (=4.21, SD =.51), kindness (=4.19, SD =.60), diligence (=4.10, SD =.61), and generousness (=3.81, SD =.70).


2. The comparison of the practice of morality and ethics in accordance with the Buddhism disciplines among the juveniles in eastern Thailand found that when classified by sex, male juveniles and female juveniles practiced themselves along with the Buddhism disciplines differently without statistical significance. When classified by grade point averages, the juveniles with different GPA practiced themselves differently with the statistical significance at .05. When classified by the level of educations, the juveniles in junior high schools and high schools practiced themselves along with the Buddhism disciplines differently without statistical significance. When classified by hometowns, the juveniles with different hometowns practiced themselves differently with the statistical significance at .05.  When classified by status of residence, the juveniles with different status of residence practiced themselves differently with the statistical significance at .05.