The objective of the research was to study the determinants affecting the decision to study nautical science program within a Thai maritime institute in preparation for working post-graduation as a ship officer on a merchant ship. The samples are classified by institute, academic year, cumulative score level, domicile, and parent's monthly income. The total sample of study was 386 Thai merchant marine students. The data collection method was a one to five rating scale questionnaire. The statistical methods applied in analyzing the data were percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, one way analysis of variance and a Sheffe's test. The study shows seven factors that influenced the decision in descending order; expectations, tuition and scholarships, selection system, quality of the institute, background and private capability, generality of the institute and external influences on the decision. The decision to select an institute was classified by institute and revealed that different institutes had distinct determinants that led to the decision. The students were from The Merchant Marine Training Center and from The International Maritime College, Kasetsart University were differences. There were no dissimilarity between academic year, cumulative score level, domicile, and parent's monthly income.

The objective of this study was to compare the attitude of merchant marine student of Thailand in 3 aspects; cognitive, affective and behavioral classified by institutes, domiciles, parent's occupation, parent's income per month, motivation and information receiving concerning mariner profession. The sample used in this study consisted of 867students in maritime institutes of Thailand. The instrument implemented in collecting data was a set of 30 five rating scale questionnaires. The statistical methods applied in analyzing the data were mean, standard deviation, t-test and one way analysis of variance and fisher's LSD. The results of this research shows that the attitude in vocational education of Thai merchant marine student was of the high in every aspect. Attitude for mariner profession of Thai merchant marine student in terms of different institutes had different in all aspects. In terms of different domiciles, it shows different attitude in affection and similar attitude in cognition and behavior. In terms of parent's occupation, it shows similar in all aspects. In terms of parent's income per month, it shows different attitude in cognition and affection and similar attitude in behavior. In terms of motivation, it shows similar in all aspects. In terms of information receiving concerning mariner profession, it shows different attitude in all aspects.