A Synthesis of Graduate Students Research in Non-formal and Informal Education, School of Educational Studies, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Abstract

The purposes of this study were (1) to analyze the characteristics of researches; and (2) to synthesize the findings of researches conducted by graduate students in Master of Education Program in Non-formal and Informal Education, School of Educational Studies, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.The research population comprised 42 theses and independent study distributed during A.D. 2003 – 2011. The research instrument were two forms, a record form of research general information and characteristics and a research finding record form. Data were analyzed using the frequency, the percentage, and content analysis. The research findings showed that (1) most researches were distributed in the year 2003; mostly were quantitative research; the instrument used most was a rating scale questionnaire; data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and content analysis;  the content of researches could be grouped into 12 topics 1) the guidelines and modules of educational management; the development of training and coaching activities; 2) the monitoring of educational management; 3) the factors related to learning and teaching; 4) the local intellectual and non-formal education; 5) the modules of activities for the students’ club; 6) the modules of library management; 7) the community participation; 8) the dissemination of knowledge and information to the public; 9) the actuation of services for the disables; 10) the study of customer satisfaction; 11) the system development; and 12) the process to establish the occupational groups; and (2) the synthesis of research findings, it was found that the body of knowledge were in accordance with the scope of the program and cover the field of non-formal and informal education, while research trends depend on the education policy used at the time the research was conducted.