ปัจจัยที่มีความสำคัญต่อการตัดสินใจของนักศึกษาในการเลือกเรียนระดับบัณฑิตศึกษา และแนวทางการเพิ่มจำนวนนักศึกษาบัณฑิตศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์วิทยาเขตหาดใหญ่

Abstract

This research is mixed methods research, consist of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The objectives of this research were (1) to study the level of important factors for student's decision making to study in graduate programs according to the expectations and existing condition (2) to compare organization factor's expectations and existing condition, to find the causal factors of student dissatisfaction (3) studying the important factor for student's decision making to study in graduate programs and decreasing the number of graduate student (4) to study and propose guideline in increasing the number of graduate students. Researcher has selected mixed methods triangulation design procedures in which implement the quantitative and qualitative methods during the same timeframe and with equal weight eg. collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data. The quantitative data was collected by sample consisted of 420 graduate students. The instrument was questionnaires. The analysis statistic were percentage (%), mean (x), standard deviation (S.D.) and t-test. The qualitative data was collected by a semi-structured indepth interview for 12 graduate student and 12 graduate program chairpersons selected by a purposive sampling technique. The qualitative data is verified by content analysis. The research findings were as follows: 1. The level of important factors for student's decision making to study in graduate program according to student's the expectation and existing condition were at the high level. 2. Comparison the expectation and existing condition in a whole were significantly different at .05 level. The level of expectations are higher than existing conditions. 3. The important factors for students' decision making to study in graduate programs by the qualitative method are lecturer, tuition fees and scholarship, building and facilities, program, location and marketing. The impact factor causing decrease in the number of graduate students are quality program, quality lecturers, student qualifications, expense study and scholarship, student services officer and external environment. 4. Guidelines to increase the numbers of graduate student should be based on the quality and improve the strategy for promotion marketing, expense study, program and lecturers.