Factors Influencing Academic Achievement in Quantitative Courses among Business Students of Private Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine factors influencing academic achievement in quantitative courses among business students of private higher education institutions in South Africa. A sample of one hundred and nineteen students was used for the study, in which participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Academic achievement results in business quantitative subjects were obtained from the students’ statements of results. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on students’ level of agreement on the extent to which specific factors influence their academic achievements. The Keiser-Meyer-Olkin of 0.791 and the Cronbach’s alpha of 0.742; with a factor analysis total declared variance of 49.3 percent were obtained from the questionnaire data used for the analysis. Five hypotheses were tested at 5 percent level of significance using descriptive statistics, ordinary least squares and stepwise regression techniques. The final results from stepwise regression indicate that lecturer competence, teaching methods and quality of learning materials have significant positive influence on undergraduate students’ academic achievements in quantitative business courses, while mathematics aptitude and minimum admission criteria have no significant influence.

Keywords: business students, academic achievements, quantitative courses