Research problems and barriers of faculty members faculty of humanities and social science, Khon Kaen university

The results of research revealed that 1) aspect of research management of faculty: proceding and experts‟ consideration encourage the faculty members more in doing research. However, there is still lack of research mentors and consultant in transfering research knowledge, advicing, and enhancing researchers‟ ability; 2) aspect of researcher: researchers have less amount of intention and commitment because of work load (teaching) which is not conducive to research and doing research is stressful and overtired. Therefore, it is considered as a problem and obstacle in doing research; 3) aspect of research fund: research funding is limited. Some projects require more research funding than limited funding source. Applying for fund and disbursement of research are complicated. Therefore, it is considered as problem and obstacle in doing research; 4) aspect of research environment: doing research lacks lack place encouraging in doing research within the faculty and there is no research facilities in doing internal research as well as opportunity in exchaing knowledge between researchers; there is no contact with other research agencies creating problems in doing research of the faculty members.

RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND BARRIERS OF FACULTY MEMBERS FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY Kwannakorn Sonman kwanso@kku.ac.th RattanaChanthao jratta@kku.ac.th Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand Abstract This article focuses on the research problems and barriers of faculty members in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University The population in the study is faculty members in Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, academic year 2557 The data is collected using questionnaire and interview Section is to analyze the general information of population; Section is to analyze 1) aspect of research management of faculty, 2) researcher, 3) research fund, and 4) research environment The results of research revealed that 1) aspect of research management of faculty: proceding and experts‟ consideration encourage the faculty members more in doing research However, there is still lack of research mentors and consultant in transfering research knowledge, advicing, and enhancing researchers‟ ability; 2) aspect of researcher: researchers have less amount of intention and commitment because of work load (teaching) which is not conducive to research and doing research is stressful and overtired Therefore, it is considered as a problem and obstacle in doing research; 3) aspect of research fund: research funding is limited Some projects require more research funding than limited funding source Applying for fund and disbursement of research are complicated Therefore, it is considered as problem and obstacle in doing research; 4) aspect of research environment: doing research lacks lack place encouraging in doing research within the faculty and there is no research facilities in doing internal research as well as opportunity in exchaing knowledge between researchers; there is no contact with other research agencies creating problems in doing research of the faculty members Keywords: Research Barriers; Research; Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Introduction Research is a fundamental activity in developing learning society especially in constantly changing situation Research is a process of learning that can create new knowledge and the knowledge that is the result of systematic analysis can be applied confidently (Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus, 2552) Teachers are key factor in quality education management In thailand, students are cultivated a culture of learning focused on listening to lecture rather than self study Hence, in addition to teach and educate students, teachers are also like library or learning resource Therefore, quality of teacher has great impact on the quality education of students Improving quality of teachers through various forms and 601 processes is crucial in progressing academic talents of teachers in conducting research and presenting academic papers in both national and international stages Teachers are consistent with roles and responsibilities of higher education institutions that have set up main missions i.e., graduate, research, academic services, and art and culture preservation Besides, the research is a major task of higher education institutes and an important factor in the development of the economy and society, but also both quantitative and qualitative research are also an indicator of the quality of education of higher education institutions in external assessment manual and the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (Public Organization) (Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education, 2007) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has been providing fund to faculty members since fiscal year 2007 - present so that faculty members come up with quality research which can be applied in the developing teaching and learning as well as policies, academic, and increase awareness of the importance of publishing research and other various knowledge of Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Khon Kaen University because research is another important obligation of university professors However, the number of faculty members applying for fund is less because doing academic research is not elementary This is because the educational institutes play a vital role in teaching which might create problems and barriers in carrying out research project For this reason, research is interested in studying the problems and barriers in applying for research fund of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University Additionally, the result is an indicator of component 4: research issue 4.2: system and mechanism of knowledge management or creative work The results of the research also led to the provision of information to the research and academic service department for recommendations on the policy formulation of research groups and the allocation of research funding to the faculty members In addition, the information is also clear enough to encourage lectueres in self-development endlessly One way for self-develoment is doing research Researcher being supporting staff of research and academic service department of faculty, is interested in studying problems and barriers in applying for research fund of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khaon Kaen University The results of the research will be presented to the executives as a guideline in promoting and supporting the research of lecturers in future Objectives To perceive problems and barriers in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University To be a guideline in solving problems in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University Methodology This is a Quantitative Research The population used in this research is faculty members from Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University in academic year 2557 The tool used in this research is questionnaire Descriptive statistics are used to analyze collected data; percentage, mean, and standard deviation 602 Results The results of the research along with objectives are as follows: Section General Information Male 10 and Female 14 Education: M.A 10 and Ph.D 14 Academic Rank: Lecturer 14 and Assistant Proffessor 10 Working experience: 1-5 years (9 persons), 6-10 years (7 persons), 11-15 years (5 persons), and more than 16 years (3 persons) 19 faculty members ever received research fund and faculty members never received research fund 18 faculty memebers had experience of being head of research project and remaining members were co-researchers Section Analyzing opinion on problems and barriers in doing research in aspects: Aspect of Research Management of Faculty Opinion on problems in doing research of faculty members are as follows: proceeding has highest level of suitability (83.3%), followed by experts‘ consideration and systematic research management (79.2%) In the aspect of publishing research, the suitability was in highest level (79.1%) In aspect of publicizing research fund of faculty, considering fund and process of submitting complete research, it also has highest suitability level (70.9) As for time in publicizing research grant/submitting research project, suitability is in highest level (54.2) Aspect of Researcher Opinion in the aspect of the researcher, the results are as follows: researchers have limited intention and commitment because of teaching work load; not conducive in doing research The level of suitability is highest (58.3%) Doing research increase stress and fatigue The level of suitability is highest (33.3%) Problem and barrier in doing personal activities and motivation The level of suitability is highest (29.2%) Researchers lack experience and skills in conducting research The level of suitability is highest (25.0%) This is lack of research advisor (20.8%) Lack of knowledge in the process of doing research (16.7) and be unaware about research field (12.5%) Aspect of Research Fund Opinion in the aspect of research fund: research fund sources are limited (79.2%) Researchers have no knowledge of research fund sources and claiming expenses is sophisticated (37.5%) Aspect of Environment in doing Research Opinion in the aspect of environment in doing research: lack of endorsing facilities in faculty (75.0%); lack of information searching facilities in the faculty (62.5%); favorable circumstances in exchanging knowledge (50.0%); and information technology system is not conducive in doing research (45.9%) 603 Discussion Studying problems and barriers in doing research of faculty members, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science found that opinion of faculty members in problems and barriers are work load of teaching and other duties in institutional development These are time-consuming in completing the research on time and institutional factor includes research funding, academic atmosphere, and institunal executives are external factors in research productivity The research result of Athitaya Changsisang (2545) titled Factors affecting research productivity of faculty members in Nursing College under the Ministry of Defence and Royal Thai Police found that factors in research funding sources, equipments, and facilities in doing research, support form the agencies, excutives, and colleagues, research time, work load facilitating research, and compensation from doing research have no affect on the productivity of the research However, researcher analyzed key factors supporting research as follows: 1) aspect of research management of faculty: in proceeding and having experts‘ consideration encourage the faculty members to participate in doing more research Nonetheless, there are no research mentors and consultant in transferring research knowledge and enhancing researchers‘ potential; 2) aspect of researcher: researchers have little intention and commitment because of work load of teaching which is not conducive in doing research Moreover, doing research increase stress and fatigue Therefore, it is considered as a problem and barrier in doing research; 3) aspect of research fund: research funding is limited Some projects require more research funding than limited funding sources and applying for research funding and disbursement of research funding is complicated This is why it is considered as a problem and barrier in doing research; 4) aspect of environment in doing research: lack of atmosphere in doing research in faculty and lack of place in searching for information including chances in exchanging knowledge of researchers and lack of researchers network with other instituten create problems in doing research of faculty members References Athitaya Changsisang (2545) Factors affecting research productivity of faculty members in Nursing College under the Ministry of Defence and Royal Thai Police Royal Thai Navy College of Nursing Naval Medical Department Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education (2007) Higher Education Plan 15 years Issue (2008-2022) Retrieved March 24, 2016, from http://www.knit.or.th/ muatest/muafiles/HEPlan-Final.pdf Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus (2552) National Research Universities Retrieved March 24, 2016, from http:// researchers.in.th/blog/nru/2312 604 ... and barriers in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University To be a guideline in solving problems in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities. .. publishing research and other various knowledge of Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Khon Kaen University because research is another important obligation of university professors However,... supporting staff of research and academic service department of faculty, is interested in studying problems and barriers in applying for research fund of lecturers, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,