Abstract:
This study explored the factors affecting the interest of students in learning quantitative
technique subjects among the faculty of business studies third and fourth-year students in
Vavuniya Campus, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. A sample of 150 students was selected from two
batches which were studied quantitative techniques subjects namely business mathematics,
business statistics, computer applications in management and management science applications
in their course. The student interests in learning of these subjects are associated with three
explanatory variables such as contributions of learning to the major subjects, completing a
research work and participating internship programs and the data related to these aspects were
collected during the academic year 2016/2017. A structured questionnaire was used to collect
the data on students' interests in learning quantitative subjects and the specific factors which
influence it in the campus. The collected data were analysed using Pearson correlation statistic
and multiple regression analysis, and the correlation results showed that all three explanatory
variables have positively correlated with the students' interest in learning and it is statistically
significant at 1% of level. Results of multiple regression model revealed that all the above
explanatory variables have positively effect on students’ interest in learning the quantitative
techniques subjects and out of them, contributions to complete their research work has more
significant in determining the interest on the subjects. This finding may help to the academic
staffs who teach these subjects to prepare their session plan with various structural strategies
which they can use to teach the students effectively to enhance their interest of learning these
subjects in the study area.
