TY - JOUR
T1 - A study of students' perceptions of the usefulness of case studies for the development of finance and accounting-related skills and knowledge
AU - Weil, Sidney
AU - Oyelere, Peter
AU - Yeoh, Joanna
AU - Firer, Colin
PY - 2001/6
Y1 - 2001/6
N2 - Recent accounting and finance education literature indicates a trend towards an increasing use of case studies. The literature in this field is primarily descriptive, with no empirical evidence on the use or effectiveness of the method. This study examines students' perceptions of the use of case studies and the potential influences of gender and prior academic performance on such perceptions. The study focuses, in particular, on students' perceptions about whether case studies develop particular skills suggested in the literature. The questionnaire-based study was conducted in a postgraduate (Honours) class at a South African university. Analyses of the results reveal significant differences in students' perceptions of the benefits of the use of cases. Gender and prior academic performance-based differences in perception were also found. The study is useful for educators who use, or intend to use, case studies, as it highlights issues, such as the learning objectives of the course, which need to be addressed prior to curriculum design.
AB - Recent accounting and finance education literature indicates a trend towards an increasing use of case studies. The literature in this field is primarily descriptive, with no empirical evidence on the use or effectiveness of the method. This study examines students' perceptions of the use of case studies and the potential influences of gender and prior academic performance on such perceptions. The study focuses, in particular, on students' perceptions about whether case studies develop particular skills suggested in the literature. The questionnaire-based study was conducted in a postgraduate (Honours) class at a South African university. Analyses of the results reveal significant differences in students' perceptions of the benefits of the use of cases. Gender and prior academic performance-based differences in perception were also found. The study is useful for educators who use, or intend to use, case studies, as it highlights issues, such as the learning objectives of the course, which need to be addressed prior to curriculum design.
KW - Case Studies Student Perceptions Skills Knowledge Gender Prior Academic Performance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0242684383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0242684383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09639280110081642
DO - 10.1080/09639280110081642
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0242684383
SN - 0963-9284
VL - 10
SP - 123
EP - 146
JO - Accounting Education
JF - Accounting Education
IS - 2
ER -