AN ANALYSIS OF SCORE
DIFFERENCES OF BUSINESS AND
NON-BUSINESS MAJORS FOR
MICROECONOMICS AND
MACROECONOMICS PRINCIPLES
Johnnie B. Linn III
Concord University
Progression of Learning
S
D
Scarcity, Opportunity Cost, Supply and Demand (4 Weeks)
MC
AS
MR
AD
Macroeconomics (12 Weeks)
D
Microeconomics (12 Weeks)
Figure 1. Score distribution of first exam for
microeconomics and macroeconomics
SCORE DISTRIBUTION 2003-2004
EXAM #1
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
MICRO SCORES
MACRO SCORES
Figure 2. Probability distribution of scores
for microeconomics and macroeconomics
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF SCORES
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
MICRO SCORES
MACRO SCORES
Test Score Statistics
Micro:
Macro:
sample size: 264
sample size: 382
mean: 16.88
mean: 15.80
std. dev: 3.63
std. dev: 3.91
The two-sample t-test for difference in means of the two populations is
t
16.88  15.80
2
2
3.63 3.91

264
382
= 3.60.
Why the Difference?
•
•
•
•
Business majors can learn economics better than nonbusiness majors.
Students who perform better in economics are more
likely to become business majors.
Business majors have more to gain by a good grade in
economics, hence are likely to invest more effort in the
course.
Business majors are required to take both
microeconomics and macroeconomics, and most of
them take macroeconomics first, so when they take
microeconomics they are being tested on materials to
which they have been exposed twice.
Table 1. Test Scores for a Macroeconomics
Section.
Group
Total
Not ever taking microeconomics (nonbusiness major)
Having taken microeconomics in the
past, simultaneously, or future
(business major)
Having taken microeconomics in the
future
Having taken microeconomics simultaneously
Number of Students
67
29
Mean
16.32
15.38
Std. Dev
3.65
4.02
38
17.03
3.22
28
16.64
2.25
6
19.33
4.84
Test Scores for a Macroeconomics Section
MC
MR
D
AS
15.38
AS
16.31
AS
= 1.47
AD
AD
29
16.64
28
MC
t
16.64  15.38
2.252 4.022

28
29
MR
= 1.47
MC
AD
D
19.33 MR
AD
4
AS
D
6
Table 2. Test Scores for a Microeconomics
Section
Group
Total
Not ever taking
macroeconomics
(non-business major)
Having taken macroeconomics in the
past, simultaneously, or future
(business major)
Having taken macroeconomics in the
future
Having taken macroeconomics simultaneously
Number of Students
62
25
Mean
16.05
14.96
Std. Dev
4.01
3.90
37
16.84
3.91
5
14.00
3.39
5
17.20
5.40
Test Scores for a Microeconomics Section
AS
AD
MC
MR
14.96
MC
MR
17.30
D
MC
MR
14.00
MR
D
25
27
D
14.00  14.96
3.392 3.902

5
25
= - 0.56
MC
17.20
AD
D
5
5
AS
t
AS
AD
CONCLUSIONS
• A strong correlation exists between better
performance and previous exposure to the
material.
• A weaker correlation exists between better
performance and being a business major,
when previous exposure to the material
has been corrected for.