An investigation into a community information database system in the northeast of Thailand: Community empowerment through community learning centres

Following the economic downturn in the late 1990s the Government of Thailand restructured the economy resulting in rapid economic recovery. The society now needs developments to project it into the Information Age. This study is but one creative response to this need. To initiate the study, an extensively validated Questionnaire was implemented with a snowball sample comprising 500 representative, non-randomised respondents from the four provinces of the Inpeng Community Network (ICN). The purpose of the Questionnaire was to ascertain levels of information needs and local knowledge, and to identify ten local experts from ICN for subsequent In-depth Interviews. Data obtained in this way were analysed then classified into a retrievable form of knowledge. A model community information database system (CIDS) was then designed, installed and trialled with a convenience sample of 165 variously prepared respondents using computers in six CLC. Semi-structured Interviews then provided additional data on information needs and refinement of the model CIDS. Respondents saw this refined CIDS as having the potential to be emulated by other rural communities, and in particular, to be a valuable technological tool suitable for dissemination throughout ICN. Respondents believed that community development and empowerment would be enhanced by CIDS, enabling individual problems to be dealt with effectively, and sustainable development to be achieved.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2006

Author dc:creator

• Wongchachom, Chumnong

• Community information database system (CIDS)
• Community learning centre
• information needs
• information retrieval
• local knowlege
• community empowerment
• Inpeng community network
• Thailand
• Communication Technology and New Media

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/104

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-1104