Perceptions of students at Prince of Songkla University towards the University environment
ทัศนะของนักศึกษาที่มีต่อสภาพแวดล้อมของมหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์

Yukol Thongton, Secretariat Office, F. of Pharmaceutical Sci., PSU.
Wicha Petchkhao, Division of Student Affairs, President's Office, PSU.
Jammaree Sirirat, Secretariat Office, F. of Agro-Industry, PSU.
Apidech Laynukul, Secretariat Office, F. of Pharmaceutical Sci., PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : tyukol@ratree.psu.ac.th

Grant : Prince of Songkla University
Published : Research Report
Key words : perceptions of students, Prince of Songkla University, student activity, student service

This research aimed to compare students' attitudes toward the environments at Prince of Songkla University in 5 aspects : physical, academic, student activity, student service, and peer rela-tionship.
The subjects of this study were 1,331 undergraduate students studying at Hat Yai Campus, Pattani Campus and Phuket Campus in the second semester of the academic year 1998.
The instrument used in collecting the data consisted of a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire consisted of 78 items and its reliability value was 0.9252. Twenty-four male and female students who did extra-curriculum activities from 3 disciplines in the 3 campuses were interviewed. The statistics used in the data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and variance. T- test and f-test were used in comparing between groups and LSD was used when a difference between pairs was found.
The results revealed that
1. The attitudes of the students toward the environments at Prince of Songkla University in all 5 aspects : physical, academic, student activity, student service, and peer relationship were at a moderate level.
2. The overview attitudes of the students toward the environments at Prince of Songkla Uni-versity, when classified by gender, the difference was found to be statistically significant (.01). Considered by item, it was found that the attitudes of male and female students toward the physical environment were not different. However, female students had better attitudes than male students toward the academic environment, student activities, and student service and the difference was statistically significant (.01). Female students were also found to have a better attitude than male students toward peer relationship and the difference was statistically significant (.05).
3. The overview attitudes of the students toward the environments at Prince of Songkla Uni- versity, when classified by the year of their study, the difference was found to be statistically signifi-cant (.01).
When considered by item and compared by pair, it was found that :
Toward the physical environment, first year studetns had a better attitude than 2nd, 3rd and final year students and the difference was statistically significant (.05); no difference was found among students of other years of study.
Toward academic environment, student activities, and student service, first year students had a better attitude than 2nd, 3rd and final year students and the difference was statistically significant (.05); no difference was found among students of other years of study.
Toward peer relationship, no difference in attitudes was found among all students.
4. When classified by campus, the overview attitudes of the students toward the environments at Prince of Songkla University were not different.
When considered by item and compared by pair, it was found that : Toward student activities, the students at Pattani Campus had a better attitude than the students at Hat Yai and Phuket Campuses and the difference was statistically significant (.05); no difference was found between the students at Hat Yai and Phuket Campuses. Toward peer relationship, the students at Pattani Campus had a better attitude than the students at Hat Yai and Phuket Campuses and the difference was statistically significant (.05); no differences were found between the students at Hat Yai and Phuket Campuses, and between those at Pattani and Phuket. Toward academic environment and student service, no difference was found among the students at Hat Yai, Phuket and Pattani Campuses.
5. The overview attitudes of the students toward the environments at Prince of Songkla Uni-versity, when classified by discipline, the difference was found to be statistically significant (.01).
When considered by item and compared by pair, it was found that :
Toward the physical environment, science and technology, and health science students had a better attitude than social science students and the difference was statistically significant (.05). Health science students had a better attitude than science and technology students; the difference was statistically significant (.05).
Toward academic environment, health science students had a better attitude than science and technology, and social science students and the difference was statistically significant (.05). The attitudes between science and technology, and social science students were not different.
Toward student activities, social science and health science students had a better attitude than science and technology students and the difference was statistically significant (.05). The atti- tudes between health science and social science students were not different.
The attitudes of science and technology, health science and social science students toward student service were not different.
Toward peer relationship, social science students had a better attitude than health science, and science and technology students and the difference was statistically significant (.05). The atti- tudes between science and technology, and health science students were not different.
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