A Needs Assessment for Developing Research Services at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were to 1) analyze the research service of Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage as reflected by the respondents classified by genders, fields of expertise, and experiences and 2) evaluate and determine priority needs concerning research service of Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage. The samples included 187 lecturers at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage selected by simple random sampling. The tool used in this research included a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics including t-test and F-test for one-way analysis of variance. The priority needs were determined using Modifiied Priority Needs Index (PNImodified). The results showed that 1) there was no different opinion on the research service of Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage as reflected by the respondents classified by the genders, fields of expertise, and experiences--overall and within each category; 2) the research service was the urgent need when considered in the overall context (PNImodified = 0.39). When considered separately; resources and information technology (PNImodified = 0.52) marked the first priority, followed by research management (PNImodified = 0.45), public relations (PNImodified = 0.42), facilities (PNImodified = 0.39, service delivery processes (PNImodified = 0.36), and the service personnel (PNImodified = 0.24), respectively.