Factors Influencing Component of Literacy and Reading Competency for the 21st Century

Abstract

This purposes of this research were : 1) to study and synthesize factors influencing component of literacy and reading competency for the 21st century; 2) to develop a causal model of the literacy and reading competency for the 21st century; and 3) to examine relativity a causal model of literacy and reading competency and empirical data of literacy and reading competency for goodness of fit. Samples are Thai citizen 15-65 years of age with the career in manufacturing sector. They are service sector, agriculture sector, and industry sector. The multi-stage random sampling provided 400 samples from each region. In sum, samples are 2,000 from four regions of the country; the north, south east and west, including Bangkok Metropolitan and the Region. Data were collected by questionnaires, achievement tests, and interview form. Analysis is carried bylinear structural model. Research results were that : 1) factors influencing component of literacy and reading competency for the 21th century were reading promotion environment, self-efficacy, reading promotion, and reading engagement; 2) a causal model of literacy and reading competency fitted with empirical data at the satisfactory level. Statistic indexes were (χ2= 553.23, p = 0.00, GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.048, SRMR = 0.039); and 3) direct effect of factors influencing literacy and reading competency were reading engagement and self-efficacy, as well as indirect effect from reading motivation and reading promoted environment. In conclusion, the total effect which was the combination of direct and indirect effect of factors influencing literacy and reading competency, presented that highest total effect was Reading engagement, next, is self-efficacy, reading motivation, and reading promotion environment.