Empirical evidence analyzed indicates that achievement of college students in economics is predicted by age, student ability, and quality of instruction. Their attitudes towards economics are explained by several socioeconomic variables, the students' perceptions of the quality of instruction, and the changes in the students' expected grades.…

Economics and business major programs were surveyed from 1980-81. Results indicate the number, general characteristics, major prerequisites, major requirements, and course offerings of standard economics programs. Results report the general characteristics, major prerequisites, and major requirements of business economics programs. (AM)

Summarizes research studies on three topics related to high-school economics: (1) instruction, (2) attitudes, and (3) student achievement correlates. Concludes that findings are mixed with no clear patterns to direct economics education. (DC)

Discusses seven issues affecting assessment: (1) selection of texts, (2) use of oral and written assignments, (3) characteristics of grades and evaluation, (4) opportunities for self-assessment, (5) retention of learning, (6) psychology of students, and (7) the development of new tests. Suggests ways that economics faculty can improve assessment…

Describes an empirical evaluation of the relationship between study time and achievement. Discusses a model describing student determination and allocation of study time in a given period. Concludes that test results fail to support the theory that college students identify and use study time in order to maximize achievement. (KO)

Discusses a study focusing on the process of learning and long-term memory in learning economics. Suggests that effective learning occurs when students have incorporated successfully the formal propositions presented into their permanent knowledge bases. Concludes that when topics are presented that build on students' prior knowledge, economic…

Presents results of a study using a switching regression model to correct for biases in assessing the gain in economic knowledge from high school economic courses. Explains that regressors used included geometry, civics, female, African-American, college, twelfth, and dummy variables. Reports substantial differences between students who elect…

Presents a review of five textbooks available for a one-semester undergraduate course in the history of economic thought. Includes method of approach taken by the authors, content, and features such as indexes and lists of suggested readings. Suggests how the texts differ with respect to content without recommending any particular book. (DK)

Reviews 14 international economics textbooks to help instructors with selection. Includes organization and structure, topics covered, and characteristics of the texts. Suggests considerations such as course length, level of abstraction desired, opinion of numerically based graphical analysis, extensiveness of examples and applications, and whether…

Presents results of a survey on the usefulness of economic concepts to graduates of a management of technology program. Reports that the students judge microeconomics to be more useful than macroeconomics in providing tools for decision making. Concludes that concepts should be taught by stressing relevant applications. (DK)

Examines the importance of economic knowledge in understanding television network news and the concepts that television journalists use most frequently. Analyzes news content of 60 programs throughout 1987. Finds that over 12 percent of total news time was devoted to economic topics. Suggests that school curricula should emphasize economic…

Described aspects of administering the U.S. Test of Economic Literacy in the United Kingdom in May 1989. Established norms for various subgroups of the British school population. Found that the main group differences were between those students who had economics training and those who did not. (DB)

Reports on a statistical analysis of the determinants of success among more than 300 graduate students who applied for admission to a particular "top five" university economics department. Explains that the job placements of the students after nine years were used to measure the graduate students' success. (CMK)

An explanation of the statistical problems encountered in economics education research with using ordinary least squares (OLS) rather than two-stage least squares (TSLS) in the context of simultaneous structural equations is provided. When endogeneous variables are simultaneously related in a system of equations, alternative statistical estimation…

A rationale, survey of research findings, and research needs for economics education are offered. The case for the universality of economic literacy has been forwarded by several leading economists. Economics education is seen as an important key for the survival of humanity; the task of the educator is to reduce partial ignorance, misinformation,…