International Journal of Social Sciences and Business Research

From Posts to Plates: Examining Digital Media’s Impact on Gastronomic Travel in Bangkok

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This investigation explores how social media channels shape gastronomic tourism in Bangkok by focusing on Thai and international travelers. A cross-sectional quantitative design was adopted, surveying 600 respondents (300 Thai and 300 foreign) to examine how demographic characteristics, confidence in digital content, and perceived culinary value intersect to influence travel decisions. Platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook emerged as critical sources of user-generated reviews, influencer endorsements, and peer recommendations. Correlation and mediation analyses revealed that trust in social media (Indirect effect = 0.35, p < 0.05) and the perceived worth of local dining experiences (Indirect effect = 0.42, p < 0.01) significantly shape visitors’ final choices. Furthermore, frequent use of online platforms was strongly associated with gastronomic tourism decisions (r = 0.63, p < 0.01). The larger sample size enhances statistical robustness, allowing for more reliable subgroup analyses, such as comparisons between different age brackets or educational levels. Results highlight the importance of producing visually engaging, credible digital content aimed at younger audiences who rely heavily on social media in their decision-making. They also underscore the need for demonstrating authenticity and cultural immersion, reflecting contemporary travel priorities that emphasize both sustainable and meaningful culinary experiences. These findings provide actionable insights for tourism operators in designing targeted digital marketing campaigns, ultimately leveraging social media to foster Bangkok’s identity as a premier gastronomic destination.

Community Participation in Tourist Attraction Management in Nang Loeng Area, Bangkok, Thailand

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This mixed method research studies the community participation in the management of tourist attractions in Nang Loeng area, Bangkok, Thailand. The objectives are to 1) study the level of community participation in the management of tourist attractions in Nang Loeng, Bangkok, Thailand 2) analyze the factors that promote and prevent the community participation in managing tourist attractions in Nang Loeng area, Bangkok, Thailand, and 3) propose the guidelines to increase the efficiency of community participation in managing tourist attractions in Nang Loeng area, Bangkok, Thailand. The sample are 225 people obtained by purposive sampling. A questionnaire is used as a research tool. Data are analyzed using descriptive statistics. The factors promote and prevent the efficiency of community participation in managing tourist attractions in the target area are studied by using a semi-structured interview. The participants in this part are 15 key informants gained by using purposive selection. The data are analyzed according to the study. The study reveals that 1) the opinions on the levels of community participation in the management of tourist attractions in Nang Loeng area, Bangkok, Thailand, are at high level in all aspects namely: the participation in decision making and planning, the participation in operation, the participation in benefit sharing, and the participation in monitoring and evaluation. The aspect with the highest level of participation is in the operations (x ̅= 3.81) and the aspect with the lowest level of participation is in monitoring and evaluation (x ̅= 3.43). 2) The differences in age, education levels, occupations, and length of stay in the area differentiate the level of participation while the difference in gender does not affect the level of the participation. The participants' information perception is highly related to their participation in managing tourist attractions in the area 3) Factors that promote the community participation in managing tourist attractions in the area are cultural and historical ties of people in the community, perception of the tourism benefits to the community, having opportunity and channels for the community to participate in the management, and the support from governmental and private sectors. The factors that prevent the participation of the community are the lack of communication and coordination between various agencies, the distrustfulness and conflicts within the community, the lack of skills and knowledge in managing tourist attractions, and the lack of resources and financial support. The guidelines for managing tourist attractions are suggested as follow; setting up a joint committee between governmental agencies, private sectors, and the community to develop a tourist attraction management plan together, and the trainings in tourist attraction management skills for community members should be arranged.

The Sales Forecasting and Development of a Statistical Website for P.E. Paper Co., Ltd.

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research presents a comprehensive approach to developing and implementing a sales forecasting system alongside a statistical website for P.E. Paper Co., Ltd. The study has three main objectives: first, to generate accurate forecasts of monthly and yearly sales; second, to identify product co-purchase patterns using association rule mining; and third, to develop a dedicated online platform for displaying the forecasting and analysis results. Adopting the Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM), the methodology involves time series analysis for sales forecasting and the Apriori algorithm to uncover items that customers frequently purchase together. Drawing from a dataset of 5,622 sales records collected between 2017 and 2021, the study projects total sales of 21,402,008 THB in 2022 and 21,402,192 THB in 2023, indicating a consistent upward trend. Additionally, the most significant product association demonstrates that customers who buy brown paper (rolls) commonly also purchase perforated paper (rolls), reflecting a 60.54% confidence level. Expert assessments of the system revealed high efficiency (mean = 3.96, SD = 0.84) in both data analysis and website design. Furthermore, a user-satisfaction survey involving 30 participants rated the platform at the highest satisfaction level (mean = 4.52, SD = 0.50). The findings underscore the feasibility and advantages of an integrated forecasting and analytics website in optimizing inventory management and strategic decision-making.

The Development of an Employment Website

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research aimed to create and evaluate an employment website, focusing on both technical quality and end-user satisfaction. Employing the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model, the team defined eight core functionalities: (1) user login, (2) member management, (3) data verification for job postings, urgent applications, and internships, (4) job details, (5) data management for job applications, urgent applications, and internship applications, (6) a contact channel, (7) applicant notifications, and (8) application status tracking. A total of two web development experts and one graphic design expert assessed the system’s quality, while 30 end-users—comprising students and recent graduates—provided feedback on user satisfaction.

Data collection involved a quality-assessment form for specialists, a user-satisfaction questionnaire, and direct observations of interactions with the prototype. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were used to quantify responses. The findings indicated that experts rated the overall website quality at a good level, citing strengths such as intuitive design and straightforward navigation. Parallel to these results, user satisfaction was also good, with particular appreciation for the system’s clarity, responsiveness, and seamless user experience.

By offering practical features tailored to both job seekers and employers, the website addresses modern recruitment challenges. The study underscores the importance of well-structured functionalities and user-focused design principles. Moreover, it highlights how digital tools can effectively bridge the gap between candidates and potential employers, streamlining the hiring process in a manner that is both efficient and user-friendly.

Thai Undergraduate Students’ Awareness of the Benefits of Massive Open Online Courses

Alan White, Leechai Panyawongngam — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study discusses the benefits and limitations of Massive Open Online Courses. The study also examines Thai undergraduate students’ awareness levels of the benefits of MOOCS and their providers. The participants of this study were 51 Thai 3^rd year undergraduate English major students. The participants were chosen as they were nearing the end of their degree program and were taking elective business related courses. The study used a 5-point scale questionnaire to obtain data on student awareness levels of MOOCs benefits and their providers. Although the students were interested in learning skills outside of their chosen major, few were aware of the benefits of taking online courses. The results of this study found that students generally had low levels of awareness in regard to MOOCs.

Chinese Students’ Perceived Difficulty Levels when Listening to Non-Native and Native English Speakers

Alan White — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines the effects of non-native practitioners’ accent on non native participants’ listening comprehension. The participants were 26 Chinese post-graduate students studying in international programs related to education and business. Students completed listening tests (30 items at 5 per accent) for both native (Australian and New Zealand) and non-native (Singaporean, Japanese, Bangladeshi and Indian) accents. They were then required to grade them out of 5 for perceived difficulty (5=very easy; 1=very difficult). The results showed highest test scores for the Australian accent (mean=4.65 out of 5) and lowest test scores for the Indian accent (mean=3.08 out of 5). The Singaporean accent was perceived to be the easiest (mean=3.85) and the Bangladeshi and Indian accents were both perceived to be the most difficult (mean=1.88). There was no correlation for the perceived difficulty levels and test scores. The results of this study suggest a need for students to listen to and be aware of accents that they are likely to encounter on a regular basis.