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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Identifying some constraints in first year economics teaching and learning at a typical South African university of technology
Author:Van der Merwe, AlexISNI
Year:2006
Periodical:South African Journal of Economics
Volume:74
Issue:1
Pages:150-159
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:academic achievement
economics education
External link:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1813-6982.2006.00055.x/pdf
Abstract:This paper examines possible determinants of economics 1 performance at the Riverside campus of the Durban Institute of Technology (DIT), South Africa. Economics 1 at the DIT comprises two modules: ECMC112 (microeconomics) taken in the first semester and ECMC122 (macroeconomics) taken in the second semester. The paper is confined to the 2005 cohort of students registered for ECMC122. The sample on which it is based consists of the racially homogeneous group of 220 students in attendance at the time that the voluntary multiple-choice questionnaire was administered. The study finds that high school subjects taken, age and gender are not significantly associated with economics achievement. Learner motivation, however, does appear to be associated with economics performance. Specifically, learners may find it difficult to relate meaningfully to the discipline's real content, at least partly as a consequence of the philosophical framework within which it is delivered and partly because they do not have the textbook. A well-designed learner guide and workbook could go some way to demonstrating the relevance of economics and instilling in students more effective learning methods. The result could be a virtuous cycle of improved performance and greater learner motivation. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]
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