What is the effect of small-group learning on student learning outcomes in economic instruction? In spring 2002 and fall 2004, the author applied cooperative learning to one section of intermediate macroeconomics and taught another section using a traditional lecture format. He identified and then tracked measures of student learning outcomes.…

The author presents new evidence on the effects of attendance on academic performance. He used a large panel data set for introductory microeconomics students to explicitly take into account the effect of unobservable factors correlated with attendance, such as ability, effort, and motivation. He found that neither proxy variables nor instrumental…

Reports the results of a study that examined interaction effects between student characteristics and the simulation-game as well as the lecture-discussion methods of instruction among freshman business administration students enrolled in an introductory economics course. (AM)

University of Georgia Student Performance was measured by the Test of Understanding in College Economics pretest-posttest procedure with Part II Forms A and B. Both lecture and TV groups were lower than the national norm with the TV groups the lowest. (Author/SE)

Lectures that recapitulated the programed text used by two classes did not add to students' cognitive learning of microeconomic theory. Implications for college courses in economics are discussed. (DB)

Fifteen sophomores, after 10 weeks of conventional instruction in a macroeconomics course were assigned programed instruction on money and banking for one week while the rest of the class (n equals 21) continued with the lectures. Post testing indicated greater gains from programed instruction. (DB)

A traditional college economics course and an experimental economics course where students may purchase lecture notes are compared for student achievement. (DE)

An evaluation of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in economics showed that CAI does improve student scores but not significantly more than traditional assignments. Results indicated that CAI is better than just using lectures to teach economics, and that, while, CAI is not better than traditional assignments, it is not any worse. (RM)

Examines whether class size in the introductory-level economics course affects subsequent performance in intermediate-level economics courses. Studies University of Massachusetts (Boston) students who are allowed to choose large or small lecture classes. Finds that students enrolled in large sections received lower grades in subsequent…