Information on the thesis "Rural Markets – A Public Space for the Formation of Public Opinion (Case Study of Mai Trang Market and Moc Market, Nghi Loc District, Nghe An Province)" by graduate student Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, majoring in Sociology.1. Student's Full Name: Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of Birth: July 2, 1986 4. Place of Birth: Nghe An 5. Decision No. 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 14, 2009, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 6. Changes during the training process: None 7. Thesis Title: “Rural Markets – A Public Space for the Formation of Public Opinion” (Case Study of Mai Trang Market and Moc Market, Nghi Loc District, Nghe An Province). 8. Major: Sociology; Code: 60 31 30 9. Scientific Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quy Thanh, Institute for Quality Assurance in Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 10. Summary of thesis results: The study has identified the characteristics and composition of people participating in the exchange and discussion process in rural markets; the topics that people are interested in and discuss; the sources of information for discussions; and the impact of mass media on the formation of public opinion. In particular, the study has presented a model and the pathways of dissemination of some specific social issues among individuals through communication and discussion in the market, forming common opinions and creating a basis for the formation of public opinion. The study examines rural markets as public spaces for the formation of public opinion, a topic that has been largely unaddressed in Vietnamese research. This is a novel aspect of the study. Generally, Mai Trang Market and Moc Market show differences in the characteristics of the subjects of public opinion, specifically regarding gender, age, and educational level. There are differences in interest between men and women regarding the topics discussed and exchanged at the market, and this difference is more pronounced at Mai Trang market than at Moc market. Older people tend to be more interested in health and medical issues. Those with higher levels of education are more interested in domestic and international politics, while those with lower levels of education are more interested in local events or cultural and lifestyle issues. The subjects of public opinion in the two markets differ in some aspects. People at Mai Trang market are more interested in political issues, while those at Moc market are more interested in local events or cultural and lifestyle issues. Information exchange in the market is complex; in some cases, individuals receive information not directly from the source but unintentionally overhear it, and then they discuss and exchange it with others. In many cases, information is distorted when transmitted from one person to another. The basis of public opinion is based on practice, on the changes in social reality, and is reflected through various channels: mass media, personal communication, direct personal observation, or events occurring in family life. Thus, rural markets are a particularly important public space in rural society. Each individual in a rural market environment is free to express their opinion on a common issue, followed by social discussion among buyers, sellers, or rather, those regularly present at the market, ultimately leading to social consensus. Besides its role as an economic organization, rural markets also reflect socio-cultural characteristics and serve as a center for information exchange and communication between individuals. Therefore, rural markets are a favorable environment for the formation of public opinion. 11. Practical applications: This research investigates the process of public opinion formation in rural markets in Nghe An province. The research results will help researchers on public opinion and policymakers understand the role and importance of rural markets in creating an environment for communication, discussion, and information exchange, thereby forming unified opinions on social issues. The research also points out the differences in public opinion formation between rural and urban markets, leading to practical policies aimed at guiding public opinion in the right direction, contributing to socio-economic development in the locality and the country as a whole. 12. Further research directions: None. 13. Published works related to the thesis: None.
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name : Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy 2. Sex: female 3. Date of birth: July 2, 1986 4. Place of birth: Nghe An 5. Admission decision number: 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SĐH Dated October 14, 2009 By the Principal of University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Hanoi National University 6. Changes in academic process: No 7. Official thesis title: The rural market - a public space for the formation of public opinion (Case study at Mai Trang market and Moc market, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province). 8. Major: sociology 9. Code: 60 31 30 10. Supervisors: Nguyen Quy Thanh – The associate professor and Doctor of Center for Education Quality Assurance and Research Development of Hanoi National University. 11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: Research has shown the characteristics and composition of people involved in the exchange process, discussed in the rural markets; the topics that people interested in discussing; source of information for discussion; the impact of media for the formation of public opinion. In particular, research has come up model, the propagation path of a specific social problem among individuals through communication, discussion at the rural market makes general opinions and provides the basis to form public opinion. Explore rural markets as public spaces for public opinion formation is virtually no studies in Vietnam mentioned. This is the new finding of the study. Overall, Mai Trang market and Moc market have different on subject characteristics of public opinion, namely gender, age, educational level. Between men and women have different attention to the issues discussed, the exchange at the market, this difference in market Mai Trang clearer in Moc Market. Those with the higher age have an interest in health issues and health. Those with higher education are usually interested with domestic politics, international politics, while those with lower education levels are often interested about events in the village and lifestyle cultural issues. Topics of public opinion in the two markets have different. People in the market Mai Trang more attention to political issues, but people in the Moc market more interested about lifestyle cultural issues and events in the village. The exchange of information in complex market place, there are cases where individuals are not receiving information directly from the holder of the information that unintentionally they hear, then they talk to the other people. In many cases information is modified during transfer from one person to another. Foundations for public opinion are from reality, from the transformation of social reality, and are reflected in the different channels: mass media, personal communication, itself directly witnessed or occur in family life. Thus, the rural markets is a public space that has the special importance of rural society. Every individual in the environment of rural markets are free to express their views on certain general issues, then there is the social discussions between buyers, sellers or rather, who often have presence in the market, eventually there will be social consensus. In addition to acting as an economic organization, rural markets also shows social and cultural characteristics, besides it is a center of information exchange, communication between individuals with each other, so the rural market provides favorable conditions for the formation of public opinion. 12. Practical applicability: The study looks at the process of forming public opinion in the rural markets of Nghe An province so that research results will help the study of public opinion, policy makers understand the role and importance of rural markets in creating the environment for communication, discussion and exchange of information from which thereby forming a consensus on social issues; research shows differences in the formation of public opinion in rural markets and urban markets, which will have the right policies in order to guide public opinion in the right direction to contribute to the socio-economic development in the locality in particular and the country in general 13. Further research directions, if any: No 14. Thesis-related publications: No
