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

RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND BARRIERS OF FACULTY
MEMBERS FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL
SCIENCE, KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
Kwannakorn Sonman

RattanaChanthao

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 1 is to
analyze the general information of population; Section 2 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
1. 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

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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 4
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.
2. Objectives
1. To perceive problems and barriers in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University
2. To be a guideline in solving problems in doing research of lecturers, Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University
3. 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.

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4. Results
The results of the research along with objectives are as follows:
Section 1 General Information

1. Male 10 and Female 14
2. Education: M.A. 10 and Ph.D. 14
3. Academic Rank: Lecturer 14 and Assistant Proffessor 10
4. Working experience: 1-5 years (9 persons), 6-10 years (7 persons), 11-15 years
(5 persons), and more than 16 years (3 persons)
5. 19 faculty members ever received research fund and 5 faculty members never
received research fund
6. 18 faculty memebers had experience of being head of research project and
remaining 6 members were co-researchers
Section 2 Analyzing opinion on problems and barriers in doing research in 4 aspects:
1. 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).
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%).
3. 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%).
4. 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%).

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5. 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.
6. References
1. 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.
2. Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education. (2007).
Higher Education Plan 15 years Issue 2 (2008-2022). Retrieved March 24, 2016, from
muatest/muafiles/HEPlan-Final.pdf.
3. Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus. (2552). National Research Universities. Retrieved
March 24, 2016, from http:// researchers.in.th/blog/nru/2312

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