Abstract

This research aimed to: (1) investigate the problems and needs related to ordination as a Buddhist monk in Theravada Buddhism; (2) develop and evaluate a learning application on the process of Buddhist monk ordination in Theravada Buddhism; and (3) evaluate users’ satisfaction with the application. The study was conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, problems and needs concerning ordination were examined. The sample consisted of 75 monks and novices residing in 23 temples and 2 monastic residences (25 sites in total) in the Dhammayuttika Nikaya area of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. A questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.84 was used, and the data were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation. In Phase 2, the learning application was developed and evaluated for appropriateness using an evaluation form with Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) values ranging from 0.60 to 1.00. The data were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation. In Phase 3, the effectiveness of the application was examined by comparing pretest and posttest scores. The sample comprised 25 monks and novices from three temples in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province—Wat Chujit Dhammaram, Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, and Wat Ban Ram—selected through purposive sampling. The learning achievement test had IOC values ranging from 0.60 to 1.00, difficulty indices (p) ranging from 0.23 to 0.73, discrimination indices (r) ranging from 0.38 to 0.78, and a reliability coefficient of 0.93. The data were analyzed using a dependent-samples t-test. Satisfaction was measured using an evaluation questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.89 and analyzed using the mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that: (1) overall problems and needs concerning ordination in Theravada Buddhism were at a high level (x? = 3.72, S.D. = 0.46). All aspects were rated at a high level: pre-ordination preparation ranked highest (x? = 3.97, S.D. = 0.73), followed by basic information (x? = 3.71, S.D. = 0.65), ordination-related problems (x? = 3.68, S.D. = 0.47), and preparation formats (x? = 3.54, S.D. = 0.63); (2) the application was evaluated as highly appropriate (x? = 4.46, S.D. = 0.28); and (3) posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest scores at the .05 level, while overall user satisfaction was high (x? = 4.50, S.D. = 0.50).