Factors affecting the digital divide in Thailand
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2024
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2567
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eng
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120 leaves
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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Aukkaradech Intolo (2024). Factors affecting the digital divide in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://repository.nida.ac.th/handle/123456789/7141.
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Factors affecting the digital divide in Thailand
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Abstract
This dissertation aimed to (1) study the level of the digital divide in Thailand, (2) analyze factors affecting the growth rate of internet users between 2011 and 2020, (3) test the relationship of independent and dependent variables using statistical methods, (4) study the digital divide that affects the provision and reception of government public services, and (5) propose guidelines for developing government policies to lessen the problem of digital divide. This research used a mixed-methods research design and quantitative research methods, namely, regression analysis and a chi-square test. The samples comprised internet users from 77 provinces in Thailand from 2011 to 2020. The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with seven selected participants through face-to-face interviews. The participants included one executive from an organization responsible for formulating communication and telecommunications policies, two scholars specializing in communications, telecommunications, population and society, two executives from internet service provider (ISP) companies, and two executives from public and private agencies related to communications and telecommunications.
The following research findings revealed that (1) Thailand experiences digital inequality at the provincial level, as the growth rate of internet users has varied across the provinces between 2011 and 2020. (2) Factors affecting the growth rate of internet users include the population aged 60 years and above, the population with incomes below the poverty line, and the number of workers registered in the social security system. The first two factors have a relationship in the opposite direction with the growth rate of internet users, while the third factor has a relationship in the same direction as the growth rate of internet users. (3) The results of the chi-square relationship test between the variables showed that all three factors were related to the growth rate of internet users. The research findings revealed that provinces with an internet user growth rate below the national average tend to have a lower number of internet users compared to the national average. This is consistent with the data from in-depth interviews, which indicate that digital inequality in Thailand is currently caused by certain internet user groups, such as the elderly, low-income populations, and workers in the social security system. (4) Digital inequality prevents disadvantaged groups from accessing public services on an equal basis with internet users. For example, the Act on Carrying Out of Public Service via Electronic Means, B.E. 2565 (2022) aims to facilitate public access to government services and communication between government agencies or officials through electronic means. It also seeks to promote the use of digital technology across the entire ecosystem. (5) Therefore, relevant agencies should promote and support public access to the internet, particularly for disadvantaged groups such as low-income populations and the elderly. Additionally, the employment of workers under the social security system should be promoted more to reduce the digital divide in Thailand.
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Thesis (D.P.A.)--National Institute of Development Administration, 2024