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ABSTRACT
Political culture refers to the beliefs, values, and attitudes which underpin the
operation of a particular political system. This research work aims to study the particular
political culture of Thai labourers and further examine the political orientation and political
socialization which influenced the political culture of Thai labourers.
The objectives of this study were to study the level of political culture of Thai
labourers and to study the difference of political culture of Thai labourers belonging to
different variables i.e. sex, age, level of education, and monthly income of family.
The study was limited to the aspects of political culture i.e. political beliefs,
political values, political attitudes, and political orientation on the basic assumption given by
Almond and Verba (1963). Four important agents i.e. family, school, peers group, and media
suggested by Dawson and Prewitt (1969) were employed for the study on political
socialization.
The descriptive research (survey method) was selected to be the research
design of the study. The five points Likert scale which measures political culture of Thai
labourers was utilized to be a tool for data collection. The descriptive statistics i.e.
frequencies, percentage (%), mean (  ), standard deviation (S.D.) were used to determine
the level of political culture. t-test (independent) and F-test (ANOVA) statistics were use to
test the difference between mean scores of political culture of Thai labourers belonging to
different variables.
The Item-Test Correlation ( rxy ) was applied for establishment of validity of the
scale. The scale which measures the political culture of Thai labourers indicated the validity
index ( rxy value) between 0.64 - 0.83 which were at excellence level. t  test was used to
establish the discrimination index of the scale. It was found that the statement in the scale
which measures the political culture of Thai labourers obtained the t  value greater than
1.96 which given statements differentiated between upper group and lower group. Test-retest
method (Pearson Product Moment Co-efficient Correlation: rxy ) was used to establish the
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reliability of the scale. The scale which measures the political culture of Thai labourers was
found the correlation efficient ( rxy ) = 0.90.
The population of the present study was the Labourers in the Central part of
Thailand. 1260 Thai labourers were selected by stratified random sampling method to be
the sample of the study.
The major findings of this study were as follow:
1. The political culture in total score and in different aspects (i.e. political beliefs,
political values, political attitudes, political orientation, and political socialization) rated by
1260 Thai labourers was at high level. The political values obtained the highest mean scores
whereas the political attitude and political beliefs obtained the second and third rank of mean
scores on political culture.
2. The political orientation rated by Thai laboueres obtained the total mean scores
at high level. It indicated that the cognitive orientation of Thai labourers was at moderate level
whereas the affective orientation rated by Thai labourers was at high level. It was observed
that Thai labourers have cognitive and affective orientation at moderate to high level but they
dislike to participate in political activities. This kind of political orientation is matched with the
subject political culture which outlined by Almond and Verba (1963).
3. The political socialization rated by 1260 Thai laboueres obtained the total mean
scores at high level. The family group of agent of socialization obtained the mean scores at
moderate level whereas school group, peers group, and media group of socialization
obtained the mean score at high, moderate and very high level. It was found that media has
more influence on political socialization than other group of agent of political socialization (i.e.
at very high level). Family influence on political socialization at moderate level whereas school
and peers group influence on political socialization at high and moderate level respectively.
4. The total mean scores of the political culture rated by male and female Thai
labourers were at high level. There was no significant difference between the total mean
scores of the political culture rated by male and female Thai labourers in total scores and in
the aspects of political attitudes, political orientation, and political socialization.
5. The total mean scores of the political culture rated by Thai labourers belonging
to age-group of 18-28 years, 29-38 years, 39-48 years, and 59-68 years were at high level
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whereas the total mean score of the political culture rated by Thai labourers belonging to
age-group of 49-58 years was at very high level. There was the significant difference between
mean scores of the political culture in total score and in different aspects rated by Thai
labourers belonging to different age-groups. The Thai labourers belonging to younger agegroup obtained smaller value of mean score on the political culture in total score and in
different aspects than that of the Thai labourers belonging to older age-group.
6. The total mean score of the political culture rated by Thai labourers belonging
to lower than bachelor degree group of education was at high level whereas the total mean
score of the political culture rated by Thai labourers belonging to bachelor degree onwards
group of education was at very high level. There was the significant difference between
mean scores of the political culture in total score and in different aspects rated by Thai
labourers belonging to different levels of education. The mean score of the political culture in
total score and in different aspects rated by Thai labourers belonging to lower than bachelor
degree group of education has smaller value than that of the mean score of the political
culture in total score and in different aspects rated by Thai labourers belonging to bachelor
degree onwards group of education.
7. The total mean scores of the political culture rated by Thai labourers belonging
to different groups of monthly income of family were at high level. There was the significant
difference between mean scores of the political culture in total score and in different aspects
rated by Thai labourers belonging to different groups of monthly income of family. The mean
score of the political culture in total score and in different aspects rated by Thai labourers
belonging to lower group of monthly income of family has smaller value than that of the mean
score of the political culture in total score and in different aspects rated by Thai labourers
belonging to higher group of monthly income of family.
8. Age, level of education, and monthly income of family does effect on the mean
scores of political culture. Sex does effect on the mean scores of the political beliefs and
political values but does not effect on the mean scores of the political attitudes, political
orientation and political socialization.
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