Development of extracurricular activities to strengthen research competency of Early Childhood Education undergraduates, Faculty of Education, Thaksin University

Phatsarabet Wetwiriyasakun, Kittithat Khongchawan, Aphinant Sirirattanajitt and Chatchawi Kaeomani

African Educational Research Journal
Published: November 24 2025
Volume 13, Issue 4
Pages 486-496
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17701645

Abstract

This research is a research and development study with the objectives to: 1) develop a set of supplementary curriculum activities to enhance classroom research competency among undergraduate students majoring in early childhood education, 2) study the classroom research competency of these students, and 3) examine the students’ attitudes toward the supplementary curriculum activity set. The sample consisted of 25 fourth-year students enrolled in the first semester of the 2024 academic year, majoring in Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education, Thaksin University. The sample was selected using cluster sampling, with the academic major used as the sampling unit. The research instruments included: 1) the supplementary curriculum activity set and its user manual, 2) a knowledge test, 3) a classroom research competency assessment form, and 4) a student attitude questionnaire. The statistical methods used for data analysis were mean (x̄), standard deviation (S.D.), and the dependent t-test.
The results revealed that:

1. The supplementary curriculum activity set, designed as a modular lesson to develop classroom research competency, consisted of six components: (1) rationale of the activity set, (2) objectives, (3) classroom research competencies, (4) four modular lessons - Module 1: Developing Research Problems, Module 2: Literature Review, Module 3: Research Methodology Design, and Module 4: Data Analysis and Research Report Writing - each with a 2-hour learning duration, totaling 8 hours; (5) learning media and resources; and (6) assessment and evaluation.
2. A comparison of students’ classroom research competency before and after using the activity set showed a statistically significant improvement at the .05 level. The post-test mean score was significantly higher than the pre-test score. Moreover, evaluations of the students’ research projects indicated that their classroom research competencies significantly exceeded the set standard at the .05 level.
3. Students’ attitudes toward the supplementary curriculum activity set improved in all aspects after its implementation when compared to their attitudes beforehand.

Keywords: Extracurricular activities, classroom research competency, early childhood field.

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