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Seeing It in a New Light: Do Cross-Disciplinary Comparisons Make Learning Economic and Financial Concepts Click?

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Listed:
  • Milovanska-Farrington, Stefani

    (The University of Tampa)

  • LaForge, Olivier

    (University of Nebraska Omaha)

  • Burton, Jennifer

    (University of Tampa)

Abstract

Analogies can simplify complex new material by relating it to ideas students already know. Making cross-disciplinary connections also makes the material more engaging, accessible and memorable. In this study, we perform a controlled empirical test to examine whether providing cross-discipline analogy examples enhances students’ learning. We find strong evidence of an increase in students’ self-reported understanding of the material and actual performance after exposure to analogies. Students who are less familiar with the concepts prior to the class benefit from the analogy examples the most. About 40% of the students report that examples that cross-reference their major facilitate learning the most, followed by about 25% of the students who find everyday examples the most useful. The findings have implications for the importance of designing a curriculum that prioritizes a cross-disciplinary, holistic approach that allows students to recognize analogies between various fields of study and helps them apply basic principles in various contexts in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Milovanska-Farrington, Stefani & LaForge, Olivier & Burton, Jennifer, 2025. "Seeing It in a New Light: Do Cross-Disciplinary Comparisons Make Learning Economic and Financial Concepts Click?," IZA Discussion Papers 17946, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17946
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burdina, Mariya & Sauer, Katherine M., 2015. "Teaching economic principles with analogies," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 29-36.
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    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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