TEACHING ECONOMICS USING COOPERATIVE LEARNING APPROACH: ACCOUNTING STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE AND ATTITUDE

Abstract

Using experimental and post experimental setting, this study examines whether different learning approach influence students’ behaviour. Specifically, this study examines whether using cooperative learning approach could improve students’ performance in economics course better than the conventional approach. This study also examines the students’ attitude towards economics subject, communication skill and social skill upon reliance on the learning approach used in the experiment. Sixty one undergraduate accounting students in a public university in Malaysia participated in this study. The results show that although there is a difference in performance between students using cooperative learning approach and students using conventional approach, the result is not significant. However, the students’ attitude toward economic subject, communication skill and social skill is more positive among the cooperation learning approach group compared to the conventional approach group. The findings of this study provide some understanding to academics and universities on the use of different learning approaches in teaching economics subject to accounting students.

Keywords: economics; undergraduate students; cooperative learning approach