Udon Thani Rajabhat University Journal of Humanities and Social Science

THE POTENTIAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN MANAGING EXTERNALITIES: CASE STUDY OF BAN DUNG SALT FARMING AREA, BAN DUNG DISTRICT, UDON THANI PROVINCE

Pimnaree Prawiset — 2025-12-24

This article aims to 1) study the role of local administrative organizations in managing impacts from salt farms, 2) study the potential of local administrative organizations in managing the problem of impacts from salt farming, and 3) propose guidelines for local administrative organizations in increasing their management potential. Qualitative research was used, with five purposive informants selected. Data were collected through structured interviews.

The research found that local administrative organizations play a key role in overseeing, issuing regulations, and communicating with the public to mitigate the impacts of salt farming on the environment, communities, and the economy. The organizations capacity is reflected in their ability to develop regulations that comprehensively govern all aspects of salt farming operations, establish standards for impact mitigation, and implement systematic monitoring and evaluation processes In addition, the proposed recommendations for enhancing the capacity of local organizations include: developing participatory communication networks with communities, strengthening the competencies of local officials, and utilizing evidence-based data to inform proactive policy-making.

DEVELOPING THE GUIDELINE OF THE OPERATION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELING CLINIC IN JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT

Ratchapoom Tantitheerasak — 2025-12-24

This research aims to examine the obstacles encountered by stakeholders in operating Psychosocial Counseling Clinic within the Juvenile and Family Court, as well as to propose strategies for enhancing their effectiveness. A qualitative research methodology was employed, utilizing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with a total of 15 participants.

The study found that the challenges and obstacles faced by stakeholders in operating Psychosocial Counseling Clinic include: 1) insufficient funding for clinic operations, 2) overlapping responsibilities and functions between the Psychosocial Counseling Clinic and the Consultation, Guidance, and Coordination Center within the Juvenile and Family Court, 3) lack of knowledge and understanding among personnel regarding the clinics, and 4) ineffective communication and coordination. Furthermore, strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of the Psychosocial Counseling Clinics’ integrated service model include: 1) merging the Consultation, Guidance, and Coordination Center with the Psychosocial Counseling Clinics to improve efficiency, 2) adopting a specialized service approach through a one-stop service model or a collaborative network approach, 3) strengthening collaborations with social networks, 4) enhancing operational efficiency, 5) providing training and workshops on clinic operations, 6) integrating the clinics into the official structure or establishing them as a formal policy, 7) encouraging the Office of the Judiciary to allocate a dedicated budget for clinic operations, and 8) promoting the integration of Psychosocial Counseling Clinic with social networks to further improve work efficiency.

CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR FROM PLANTS TO BODY; THE MEANING CONSTRUCTION OF NOUN-NOUN COMPOUNDS IN THAI

Worraluck Weerayuth — 2025-12-25

This study aims to analyze the semantic structures and meaning-construction processes of Thai noun–noun compounds that convey body-related meanings and compare them with plant-related conceptualizations. The analysis is grounded in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) and the Conceptual Blending Theory developed by Fauconnier & Turner (1998). The data for this research consist of noun–noun compounds collected from two sources: (1) The Royal Institute Dictionary (2011), and (2) Khlang Khom (Revised Edition, 2016).

The analysis of the semantic structure of five Thai noun–noun compounds denoting body-related meanings, which were compared to plant-based conceptualizations, reveals that the head of the compounds retain their original meanings, referring to bodily organs or parts, while the modifiers convey metaphorical meanings. The compounds derive their meanings through the mapping of plant characteristics onto those of body parts to describe their specific features. These reflect the metaphorical cognitive system underlying Thai speakers’ conceptualizations. In addition, explaining the meanings of the body-related compounds-compared with plant-based conceptualizations-through conceptual integration networks reveals the interconnections among the conceptual domains necessary for interpreting these compounds. This analysis further clarifies the cognitive processes employed by Thai speakers in constructing the meanings of the five compounds examined in this study.

COMMUNITY – BASED TOURISM MANAGEMENT UNDER THE CONCEPT OF COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF RAFTING AT BAN THAO WAT, LAO PO DAENG SUBDISTRICT, MUEANG DISTRICT, SAKHON NAKHON PROVINCE

Worameta Yodboon — 2025-12-27

This research article seeks to (1) investigate the collaborative management of community tourism resources at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province, (2) analyze the challenges and impediments to collaborative management within the community at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province, and (3) propose guidelines and recommendations to improve collaborative management in the community at Long Pha Ban Tha Wat, Sakon Nakhon Province. The study employs qualitative research methods, collecting data through observation and in-depth interviews with 22 key informants using purposive sampling, and analyzes qualitative data through content analysis.

The study's findings indicate that 1) the Ban Tha Wat rafting tourism site, which is situated in Lao Por Daeng Subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province, is managed collaboratively by the government and the local community. Joint activity planning, getting operating permissions, benefit sharing, and post-operation evaluation are the first steps in starting a rafting business. Strong rafting operators, a competent community committee, cooperation, and both mental and physical work from locals are all necessary for successful administration. This has resulted in a participatory tourism management model that involves all relevant stakeholders. 2) The problems and obstacles in management include regulatory and licensing issues related to operating the rafting business, insufficient promotion of tourism, budgetary constraints, service quality issues among raft operators, and concerns about the visual appeal of the landscape. Additionally, 3) recommendations include the following: the Lao Por Daeng Subdistrict Municipality should publicly disclose the regulations and requirements for operating raft tourism businesses; the municipality and raft operators should use technology and digital media to promote tourism; government agencies, including local administrative organizations, should set aside enough funds for rafting-related activities; rafting operators should set up service standards and hire more food vendors to guarantee prompt and adequate service, particularly during holidays; and improving the landscape to draw in more tourists.

MECHANISM AND COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT FOR LOW-INCOME ELDERLY DAY SERVICE CENTERS: A CASE STUDY OF ROI ET AND LADSAWAI MUNICIPALITIES

Orathai Pongkaew — 2025-12-31

This research aimed to examine demands and to develop systems and management mechanisms for Day Service Centers appropriate for low-income communities, using Universal Design and community-based management as the core conceptual frameworks. An applied action research approach combined with mixed methods was employed. Data were collected from a total of 525 low-income elderly persons and persons with disabilities in two pilot areas: Roi Et Municipality, Roi Et Province, and Ladsawai Municipality, Pathum Thani Province. Research instruments consisted of a questionnaire and a set of assessment checklists (BPT-01 and BPT-02), developed under the support of the Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU, Thailand) and validated by experts. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through area-based analysis to reflect contextual differences between study sites. The findings revealed a high level of compounded vulnerability among the participants: 73% had chronic diseases, and 60.57% had experienced falls at home, which were associated with anthropometric mismatch and unsafe physical environments. The demand for Day Service activities emphasized an integrated approach encompassing health, economic empowerment, and socio-cultural dimensions. The key outcome of this research was the synthesis of a community-based management model for Day Service Centers, comprising (1) participatory mechanisms involving community members and local stakeholders, (2) the application of PMU-supported assessment tools as an evidence-based foundation for facility readiness assessment and center establishment decisions, (3) an integrated activity management system addressing health, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions, and (4) hybrid funding support from local administrative organizations. This model provides empirical evidence to support policy decision-making and contributes to the sustainable development of context-sensitive Day Service Centers in low-income communities.

TRADITIONAL HEALERS' WISDOM IN SOUTHERN THAILAND ON THE USE OF KRATOM-BASED FORMULATIONS FOR TREATING BLOOD AND WIND DISORDERS

Juthamas Banchakan — 2025-12-31

The southern region of Thailand is an agricultural society where people engage in heavy physical labor, which leads to various health problems. Disorders related to the blood and wind elements are common. Local people use Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil.), a native plant, for health care. However, traditional healers usually apply medicinal herbs in the form of polyherbal formulations. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) investigate the diversity of medicinal herbs in formulations containing kratom used for treating blood and wind disorders, and (2) document the traditional knowledge of these kratom-based formulations used by traditional healers in six southern provinces with lifestyles strongly influenced by Buddhism. Sixteen traditional healers were purposively selected and interviewed to obtain key information on the formulations, methods of preparation and use, and therapeutic properties. Data were analyzed qualitatively by frequency and percentage.

The study identified 58 species of medicinal herbs used in formulations, including kratom. A total of 19 formulations were recorded: 4 single-herb and 15 multi-herb recipes. These were classified into five therapeutic groups: 11 for energy restoration, and 3 each for appetite stimulation, blood and wind disorders, hypertension, and wind dispersion. Notably, a single formulation often exhibited multiple therapeutic properties. Based on the framework of traditional Thai medicine, kratom was used as the principal ingredient in 6 formulations (31.58%), a secondary ingredient in 8 formulations (42.11%), and a supplementary ingredient in 5 formulations. This study reflects the continued importance of kratom in folk healing practices. Promoting its use will contribute to strengthening the cultural and medicinal value of local plants.

ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH LOCAL WISDOM KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OF THE ANCIENT TEEN JOK TEXTILE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE IN LOHNG HOD–DOI TAO, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE

Phisaphim Junphrom — 2025-12-31

This research aimed to develop communication skills through the knowledge management process of local wisdom among the Ancient Teen Jok Textile Conservation Community Enterprise in Lohng Hod–Doi Tao, Chiang Mai Province. The study employed a mixed-methods approach following the knowledge management process.

In Phase 1, data collection and organization were conducted with 50 members of the ancient Teen Jok weaving groups in Doi Tao District, Chiang Mai. The checklist used in this phase was validated by three experts, yielding an Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) of 0.759. Data triangulation and public forums were applied to ensure consensus of no less than 60%. The findings revealed four main groups of ancient Teen Jok textile patterns: Khan Khom, Khom Luang, Kut, and Khrua patterns.

In Phase 2, the development of an information system—the Ancient Teen Jok Textile Pattern Database—was carried out. Evaluation by five experts indicated a very high level of quality (Mean = 4.616, S.D. = 0.157). The overall satisfaction level among community weavers was also rated at a high level (Mean = 4.096). The database design was validated by three experts, with an IOC value of 0.793.

In Phase 3, knowledge exchange and application were implemented by selecting five community innovators—heads of weaving groups from various sub-districts in Doi Tao and Hod districts—for participation in three innovation development activities. The activity plans were reviewed by three experts, showing an IOC value of 0.871. Communication skill assessment was based on three dimensions: speaking, thinking, and lifelong learning skills, using scoring rubrics validated by experts (IOC = 0.819). The results revealed that the overall communication skill development of the five innovators had an average score of 4.177, which is considered at a very high level.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the integration of local wisdom knowledge management effectively enhances communication skills and strengthens community capacity. It supports sustainable local development in alignment with national strategies and policies aimed at improving the well-being of local populations.