A Study on Subject Interest Levels Among First-Year MMS Students Using ANOVA
Author: Priya Jadhav
Introduction:
Subject interest is an important aspect of students’ academic life, especially in management education where students are exposed to a variety of subjects such as finance, marketing, human resources, and operations. Interest levels may vary among students based on factors like personal preference, career goals, and perceived difficulty of the subject. Understanding these differences helps in identifying patterns in student engagement and learning behavior.
This study focuses on analyzing whether there is a significant difference in subject interest levels among first-year MMS students using the statistical technique of ANOVA.
Objective:
To analyze and compare the subject interest levels among first-year MMS students across different subjects such as Cost and Management Accounting, Economic Environment and Policy, Business Research Methods, and Corporate Finance using ANOVA, in order to determine whether a statistically significant difference exists among these subject groups.
Literature Review:
1. Role of Interest in Academic Performance
According to Jumasih (2023), students’ interest in learning plays a crucial role in their academic success. Interest acts as a motivational factor that encourages students to engage more deeply with subjects, leading to better understanding and higher achievement. The study highlights that higher interest levels result in improved learning outcomes and performance.
2. Factors Influencing Subject Interest in Higher Education
Wild and Kunina-Habenicht (2024) explained that students’ subject interest in higher education is influenced by factors such as academic performance, teaching quality, and individual characteristics. Their study also found that interest levels may vary across different academic disciplines and can change over time, making it important to analyze differences among subjects.
Data Collection:
The data for this study was collected through a structured Google Form survey conducted among first-year MMS students. I collected responses from my college classmates to understand their interest levels in different subjects.
The questionnaire included the following subjects:
• Cost and Management Accounting
• Economic Environment and Policy
• Business Research Methods
• Corporate Finance
A total of 23 responses were collected. The data is primary in nature and reflects the subject interest levels of students.
Data Analysis:
Hypothesis
• H₀: All subjects have the same interest level.
• H₁: Any one of them is different.
ANOVA Table (Single Factor)
|
Source of Variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
|
Between Groups |
47.30681818 |
3 |
15.76893939 |
2.354447766 |
0.077795106 |
2.713227129 |
|
Within Groups |
562.5909091 |
84 |
6.697510823 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
609.8977273 |
87 |
|
|
|
|
Conclusion:
As calculated, the F value (2.3544) is less than the F critical value (2.7132). Therefore, we accept H₀, meaning all subjects have the same interest level and there is no significant difference among them.
References:
Jumasih. (2023). The role of learning interest in improving student academic achievement. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Education.
Wild, E., & Kunina-Habenicht, O. (2024). Student interest in higher education: The role of academic and personal factors. Educational Psychology Review.