IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/uwe/wpaper/0914.html

Students’ perceptions of economics:Identifying demand for further study

Author

Listed:
  • Don J. Webber

    (Department of Business Economics, Auckland University of Technology and Department of Economics, UWE, Bristol)

  • Andrew Mearman

    (Department of Economics, University of the West of England, UK)

Abstract

Most university departments aspire to increase their quantity of students. The objective of this empirical study is to ascertain whether it is possible to identify students who would demand more economics study. Using data on student perceptions of economics and the application of logistic regression, K-means clustering, ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD statistical techniques we reveal distinct clusters of students, including a small cluster of students who appear to be more open to further study.

Suggested Citation

  • Don J. Webber & Andrew Mearman, 2009. "Students’ perceptions of economics:Identifying demand for further study," Working Papers 0914, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol.
  • Handle: RePEc:uwe:wpaper:0914
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://carecon.org.uk/DPs/0914.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2009
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicola Reimann, 2004. "First-year Teaching-Learning Environments in Economics," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 3(1), pages 9-38.
    2. John J. Siegfried, 2000. "Undergraduate Economics Degree Trends Through the 1990s," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 296-300, September.
    3. Ray Bachan & Michael Barrow, 2006. "Modelling Curriculum Choice at A-level: Why is Business Studies More Popular than Economics?," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 5(2), pages 58-80.
    4. David H. Reiley & Michael B. Urbancic & Mark Walker, 2008. "Stripped-Down Poker: A Classroom Game with Signaling and Bluffing," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(4), pages 323-341, September.
    5. Paul Ormerod, 2003. "Turning the Tide: Bringing Economics Teaching into the Twenty First Century," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 1(1), pages 71-79.
    6. John J. Siegfried, 2008. "Trends in Undergraduate Economics Degrees, 1991-2007," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(3), pages 297-301, July.
    7. Jeff Borland & Joe Hirschberg & Jenny Lye, 2001. "Data reduction of discrete responses: an application of cluster analysis," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 149-153.
    8. Charles A. Holt, 1999. "Teaching Economics with Classroom Experiments: A Symposium," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 65(3), pages 603-610, January.
    9. Denise Hazlett, 2008. "A Classroom Inflation Uncertainty Experiment," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 7(1), pages 47-61.
    10. Alauddin, Mohammad & Valadkhani, Abbas, 2003. "Causes and Implications of Declining Economics Major: A Focus on Australia," MPRA Paper 50393, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Christine Huttin, 2000. "A cluster analysis on income elasticity variations and US pharmaceutical expenditures," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(10), pages 1241-1247.
    12. Michelle S. Goeree & Jeroen Hinloopen, 2008. "Cooperation in the Classroom: Experimenting with R&D Cooperatives," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(4), pages 357-373, September.
    13. William E. Becker, 1997. "Teaching Economics to Undergraduates," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(3), pages 1347-1373, September.
    14. Stephen B. DeLoach & Steven A. Greenlaw, 2007. "Effectively Moderating Electronic Discussions," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(4), pages 419-434, September.
    15. Colander, David, 2003. "The Aging of an Economist," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(2), pages 157-176, June.
    16. Charles A. Holt, 1999. "Teaching Economics with Classroom Experiments: A Symposium," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 65(3), pages 603-610, January.
    17. John J. Siegfried & Michael K. Salemi, 1999. "The State of Economic Education," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(2), pages 355-361, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Mearman & Aspasia Papa & Don Webber, 2014. "Why do Students Study Economics?," Economic Issues Journal Articles, Economic Issues, vol. 19(1), pages 119-147, March.
      • Andrew Mearman & Aspasia Papa & Don J. Webber, 2013. "Why do students study economics?," Working Papers 20131303, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol.
    2. Klarizze Anne Martin Puzon, 2023. "Democracy clusters and patterns of inequality: A k-means approach," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-72, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Andrew Mearman & Tim Wakeley & Gamila Shoib & Don J. Webber, 2011. "Does Pluralism in Economics Education Make Better Educated, Happier Students? A Qualitative Analysis," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 10(2), pages 50-62.
    4. Robert Hoffmann & Swee Hoon Chuah & Jason Potts, 2017. "Behavioral policy and its stakeholders," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 1(S), pages 5-8, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Janet T. Knoedler & Daniel A. Underwood, 2004. "La enseñanza de los Principios de Economía: propuesta para un enfoque multiparadigmático," Revista de Economía Institucional, Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Economía, vol. 6(11), pages 39-72, July-Dece.
    2. Andrew C. Worthington & Helen Higgs, 2000. "Student Perceptions of the Profession and the Decision to Major in Economics," School of Economics and Finance Discussion Papers and Working Papers Series 085, School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology.
    3. Dr. Mohammad Alauddin & Professor John Foster, 2005. "Teaching Economics at the University Level: Dynamics of Parameters and Implications," Discussion Papers Series 339, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    4. Anna Maximova & Steve Muchiri & Mihai Paraschiv, 2023. "A Stroll Down the Dollar Street: Teaching Per-Capita GDP Using Internationally Comparable Photographs," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 8(2), pages 87-113, May.
    5. Andrew Worthington & Helen Higgs, 2003. "Factors explaining the choice of a finance major: the role of students' characteristics, personality and perceptions of the profession," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21.
    6. Allgood, Sam, 2001. "Grade targets and teaching innovations," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 485-493, October.
    7. Gerald Eisenkopf & Pascal A. Sulser, 2016. "Randomized controlled trial of teaching methods: Do classroom experiments improve economic education in high schools?," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 211-225, July.
    8. Green, Tom L., 2013. "Teaching (un)sustainability? University sustainability commitments and student experiences of introductory economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 135-142.
    9. Andrew Mearman & Aspasia Papa & Don Webber, 2014. "Why do Students Study Economics?," Economic Issues Journal Articles, Economic Issues, vol. 19(1), pages 119-147, March.
      • Andrew Mearman & Aspasia Papa & Don J. Webber, 2013. "Why do students study economics?," Working Papers 20131303, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol.
    10. Bruce M. Skoorka & Carol M. Condon, 2002. "Factors Underlying Trends in Economics Majors: A Cause for Concern?," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 46(2), pages 54-64, October.
    11. A. Arrighetti & A. Lasagni, 2018. "Insegnare Economia Industriale ‘in a digital age’," Economics Department Working Papers 2018-EP06, Department of Economics, Parma University (Italy).
    12. Robert Rebelein & Evsen Turkay, 2016. "When do first-movers have an advantage? A Stackelberg classroom experiment," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 226-240, July.
    13. Edward Cartwright & Anna Stepanova, 2012. "What do Students Learn from a Classroom Experiment: Not much, Unless they Write a Report on it," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 48-57, January.
    14. David L. Dickinson, 2006. "Cash or Credit? The importance of reward medium and experiment timing in classroom preferences for fairness," Working Papers 06-12, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    15. Steve Muchiri & Mihai Paraschiv, 2019. "Where Do Rebounds Go? Using Balls to Teach Price Elasticity of Demand," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 4(2), pages 60-75, December.
    16. Matthew C. Rousu & Jay R. Corrigan & David Harris & Jill K. Hayter & Scott Houser & Becky A. Lafrancois & Olugbenga Onafowora & Gregory Colson & Adam Hoffer, 2015. "Do Monetary Incentives Matter in Classroom Experiments? Effects on Course Performance," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 341-349, October.
    17. Raboy, David G., 2017. "An introductory microeconomics in-class experiment to reinforce the marginal utility/price maximization rule and the integration of modern theory," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 36-49.
    18. Coda Moscarola, Flavia & Migheli, Matteo, 2015. "Educating Children to Save: an Experimental Approach to Financial Education of Pupils in Primary Schools," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 201502, University of Turin.
    19. Santos, Joseph M., 2002. "Peer Pressure: Refereed Journals And Empirical Research In The Undergraduate Economics Curriculum," 2002 Annual meeting, July 28-31, Long Beach, CA 19854, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    20. Edward M. McNertney & Robert F. Garnett, Jr., 2006. "Using a Simple Simulation Model to Help Students 'Think Like Economists' in Intermediate Macroeconomics," Computers in Higher Education Economics Review, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 18(1), pages 34-39.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • A29 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Other

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:uwe:wpaper:0914. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Jo Michell (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/seuweuk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.