Abstract:
Purposes: 1. To analyze three lower secondary education social studies textbooks on Buddhism published by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development, Ministry of Education : S 101, S 102 Our Country for mathayom suksa 1, S.203, S.204 Our Neighbour for mathayom suksa 2, and S.305, S.306 Our World for mathayom suksa 3 in four aspects namely: the format, the teaching aids, the writing style and language, and the content of the textbook. 2. To evaluate the general quality of the three lower secondary education social studies textbooks on Buddhism. Procedures: The criteria and form for analysis and evaluation of lower secondary education level social studies textbooks on Buddhism were set up by the researcher and approved by the jury comprised of 5 specialists concerned. There were two types of form for analysis and evaluation: a rating scale for textbook quality on format, teaching-learning aids, writing style and language, and a frequency table for scoring of content quality of the textbook. The obtained data were analyzed by means of percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and presented in tables with description. Findings: 1. To consider as a whole, the quality of the three lower secondary education level social studies textbooks on Buddhism concerning the format, the teaching-learning aids, the writing style and language was at average level by arithmetic means of 2.44, 2.76 and 2.76 respectively. To consider in detail, it was found that the quality of the format of all the three textbooks was at average level. The teaching-learning aids in social studies textbooks on Buddhism for mathayom suksa 1 and mathayom suksa 3 needed some improvement but the textbook for mathayom suksa 2 needed much improvement. In the social studies textbooks on Buddhism for mathayom suksa 2, the writing style and language were of high quality while that of the other two textbooks were at average level. 2. The results of content analysis of the three lower secondary education level social studies textbooks on Buddhism were: 2.1 The compatability of the content of the three social studies textbooks on Buddhism under study and the objectives of social studies program at lower secondary education level as determined by percentage was 44.44, 56.08 and 45.74 respectively. To consider in detail, it was found that the content of social studies textbooks for mathayom suksa 1 and mathayom suksa 3 was most compatible to the third objective of lower secondary education level social studies program: To enhance the quality of living with moral principles and other desirable characteristics for the Thai society. The content in textbook for mathayom suksa 2 was most compatible to the objective No. 2: To encourage patriotism, unity in the nation, devotion for the community, appreciation for remarkable Thais works, preservation of independence as well as conservation of the nations fine culture and tradition. 2.2 The quality of the content of the three lower secondary education level social studies textbooks on Buddhism was relatively at the same level. It was relevant to the criteria which the researcher had set up at the percentage of 49.88, 53.26 and 55.01 respectively. The content of both social studies textbooks on Buddhism for mathayom suksa 2 and mathayom suksa 3 mostly helped foster students concepts of Buddhism. The finding indicated that the content of the textbook for mathayom suksa 1 was more appropriate for students maturity and grade level that the other two.