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[2012]

Marketing Research Project


The opinion and intentions of the actual students of Transilvania University regarding the relevance and future application of the knowledge gained during academic years

Name: Fodor Andreea Nicoleta Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration BA 8801 2nd Year

Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................3 Objectives: ...............................................................................................................................................................4 Hypotheses .............................................................................................................................................................5 3.1. General Hypothesis: .......................................................................................................................................5 3.2. Statistical Hypothesis: ...................................................................................................................................6 3.3 3.3. 4. Alternative Hypothesis: ...........................................................................................................................6 Correlations Between The Variables Of The Research .............................................................6

Methodology Of The Research Process .....................................................................................................7 4.1. Methods................................................................................................................................................................7 4.2. Population Included In The Research ....................................................................................................7 4.3. Calculating The Sample Size .......................................................................................................................8 4.4. The Sampling Method....................................................................................................................................9 4.5. Questionnaire Brief Description ........................................................................................................... 10 4.6. The Final Layout Of The Questionnaire ............................................................................................. 11

5.

Results Of The Research ................................................................................................................................ 17 5.1. Analysis Of Each Question ........................................................................................................................ 17

6. Testing The Hypotheses Of The Research................................................................................................. 42 7. Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................................. 50

1. INTRODUCTION
Romanian educational curriculum has been widely criticized, from all fronts: media, teachers, parents, employers. The main reasons highlighted during discussions upon this subjects have been: the high amount of information provided at a very young age, the lack of necessity and quality of the subjects in the curriculum, the inexperience of the teachers in applying their knowledge for students to find it interesting and challenging. Students nowadays are given the chance to choose what they are going to study during university, but not how. The importance that is given to the practical methods of teaching is at its lowest level, compared to the amount of the theoretical part. It is known that in Romania, when you finish your studies, you have from least to zero work experience, exactly what employers are looking for. That is why, when they post hiring announcements, they usually look for entry-level candidates at least, which are not easy to find in our labor market. If you are lucky or smart enough to find a job during your academic years and keep both your job and your scholarship, you surely are an exception. Considering this situation, I thought of eliciting the opinion and intentions of the actual students of Transilvania University regarding the relevance and future application of the knowledge gained during academic years. It was felt that the students feedback would reveal whether the so-called reforms are acceptable to them and their opinion for the betterment of teaching/learning the subject.

2. OBJECTIVES:
Marketing Management Questions Research Objectives
To identify the students educational What do they study? What do they want to achieve in the future? background; To identify the students future plans regarding their career; To find the subjects that interest the students most; To know whether they intend to use the information from the courses in the future. Why did they choose to study at Transylvania University? Why did they choose a To identify the reason the students chose Transylvania University;

Research Questions

What are the main behaviors of the students?

What subjects interest them most? Do they plan to use the knowledge gained during the university in the future?

Attitudes towards university

certain specialization? What do they want from the teachers?

To identify the reasons why they chose a certain specialization; To find their

Are they satisfied by the

preferences related to

educational curriculum? Are they satisfied by the teaching methods?

their teachers; To measure the level of satisfaction regarding the curriculum and the teaching methods. To spot the subjects

Which subjects do they find useless?

that they consider less interesting and useless ;

Opinions students regarding the subjects

Do they think that they could find a job in the field they are studying without a bachelors degree? To identify their prospects regarding future employment in the studied field.

Intentions of the students to use the studies in the future

Do they plan to use the knowledge inside or outside of Romania?

To identify their intentions of using their knowledge gained during university years.

3. HYPOTHESES
3.1. GENERAL HYPOTHESIS:
1. Most of the students that have been interviewed find the academic curriculum useful, but hard to assimilate. The subjects are too rich and extensive and are studied in a short period of time, leading to ineffective learning and memorizing. 2. Many students have planned to work in the field they are studying, but find it difficult to get a job because of the lack of experience and practice. 3. Generally, students want active and passionate teachers, which have their methods of making the study hours more interesting, appealing and easy to keep up with.

4. A large number of students say that, in order for them to pass their exams, they practice cramming, which has, in general, an inefficient result, because theory is easily forgotten afterwards.

3.2. STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS:


H0 : More than 60% of the students are satisfied by the educational curriculum. H1 : Less than 60% of the students are satisfied by the educational curriculum. H0 : At least 85% of the students agree that all the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation. H1 : At most 85% of the students agree that all the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation. H0 : At most 50% of the students would prefer different teaching methods. H1: At least 50% of the students woud prefer different teaching methods.

3.3 ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS:


H0: Students of Transilvania University have identified more than 2 subjects that are not useful in the near future. H1: Students of Transilvania University have

identified less than 2 subjects that are not useful in the near future. H0: The students of Transilvania University find in average at most 3 subjects useful. H1: The students of Transilvania University find in average at least 3 subjects useful.

3.3.
H0:

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE VARIABLES OF THE RESEARCH

There is no relationship between the specialization of the students and their

satisfaction regarding the curriculum.

H1:

There is a relationship between the specialization of the students and their

satisfaction regarding the curriculum. H0: There is no difference between the satisfaction regarding the teaching methods of the male and female respondents. H1: There is a difference between the satisfaction regarding the teaching methods of the male and female respondents.

4. METHODOLOGY OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS 4.1. METHODS


Participants have been sent the link to the website were the questionnaire had been created and have responded to the questions online. The total number of questions in the survey is 20, and they are related to the subjects and the actual curriculum of the Economic Sciences Faculty, approved by the higher authorities assigned by the university.

4.2. POPULATION INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH


From the students of the Transilvania University, The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration that are currently studying in the current year 2012, 50 have received the online questionnaire and have filled it in. There are three conditions to the methodology used for this project that have to be fulfilled by the survey in order to be eligible for general results : 1. It must have the necessary number of respondents so that it covers the entire range of behaviors, attitudes, specializations and age. 2. The structure of the research population must be at least similar to the structure of the entire population of students of Transilvania University 3. The sample must be selected randomly so that it reflects the characteristics of the entire population.

4.3. CALCULATING THE SAMPLE SIZE


In order to calculate the sample size, we will use the following formula:
2 Z 2 2

n
Where:

E2

is known as the critical value, the positive boundary for the area of

value that is at the vertical

in the right tail of the standard normal distribution.

is the population standard deviation. is the sample size.

E is the margin of error.

Z = 1.960 with Confidence level of 95%

2= p x (100-p), and, in order to get the maximum value, we will use p=50 : 2= 50 x (100-50) 2= 50 x 50.
The percentage of the favourable answers p was considered equal to 50 %, because, in this case, you obtain the maximum standard deviation, that can ve registered in the case of the binary variables. Such a maximum deviation leads us to a covering size of the sample, that can guarantee an error (E) which cannot be higher that the one initially established.

If E= 5% ,it results that :


n 1.96 2 50 50 384 persons; 52

If E=3%, it results that : 8

1.96 2 50 50 n 1067 persons. 32


For this project, a total number of 60 questionnaires have been completed, and the error used is the one with a value of 5 %, which means that the size of the sample is 386 people.

4.4. THE SAMPLING METHOD


The sampling method used for this research is the cluster analysis. The primary sampling population are the students of Transilvania University in Brasov, the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, year 1, 2 and 3. Next, these students have been divided in groups according to their specialisation: Management Business Administration (RO) Business Administration (EN) Marketing Accounting Finance and Banking Tourism Informatics applied in economics International Business

The first step in finding a proper sampling population has been to target the students of Transilvania University. Because the purpose of this questionnaire is to highlight the main subjects that need to be changed or not, to find the students opinions and attitudes towards the university and the teachers, only the population of the Economic Sciences Faculty has been selected , for a proper representation of the entire

population. These students were then divided in accordance to their faculty, as mentioned above.

4.5. QUESTIONNAIRE BRIEF DESCRIPTION


The questionnaire consists of 20 questions that reach topics related to the subjects studied during university in all specialisations of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration. The purpose of the survey is to elicite the opinion and intentions of the actual students of Transilvania University regarding the relevance and future application of the knowledge gained during academic years. It was felt that the students feedback would reveal whether the so-called reforms are acceptable to them and their opinion for the betterment of teaching/learning the subject. The first question is a nominal scale one, with multiple alternatives of response. The second question is a nominal one too, but with a single alternative of response. The third is a nominal question, with multiple alternatives of response, and the forth is a nominal question with a dichotomous scale. The fifth question is a nominal, with multiple alternatives of response. The sixth question is of ordinal scale, with semantic differential scale. The seventh, the eigth and the ninth are all nominal, while the tenth is of rank ordinal scale according to a characteristic, and the eleventh question is of constant sum scale. Question number 12 is of ordinal, semantic differential scale and question number 13 is of ordinal, Likert scale. Question no. 14 measures the number of hours that the students consider necessary enough for studying one subject in a week, so it is a direct measurement scale. Question no. 15 and no. 16 are of dichotomous scale, and the seventeenth question is of ordinal, numerical scale. The last three questions identify the characteristics of the sample population , so are nominal, with a single alternative of response.

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4.6. THE FINAL LAYOUT OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE Transilvania University Brasov Questionnaire nr._____ Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration Date ____________ QUESTIONNAIRE Hello, my name is Andreea Fodor and I am conducting a research about the opinions and intentions of the actual students of Transilvania University regarding the relevance and future application of the knowledge gained during academic years. Please answer honestly to the following questions. Thank you for your support! 1.Why did you choose to study at the Transylvania University? It has good teachers I live near the university It is cheap My parents decided for me Other

2.What is your specialisation? Marketing Business Administration (RO) Management Finance and Banking Informatics applied in economics 11

Tourism economics and Commerce Business Administration (EN) International Business Accounting and Management Information Systems 3. Why did you choose this specialisation? I want to work in this field To get a diplom easily I want to become a teacher To improve my knowledge 4. Are you satisfied by the curriculum? Yes No 5. Would you like any of the following reforms to be made? Decrease the number of lectures Increase the number of lectures Include more student seminars Introduce Group Discussions Make use of audiovisual aid 6. The following subjects are relevant for each specialisation. What opinion did you gather from your seniors regarding the following subjects?

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Very useful Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics Accounting Finance

Useful

Nor useful, nor unuseful

Unuseful

7. Which topics do you find interesting? Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technologies Mathematics Accounting

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Finance 8.Would you prefer different teaching methods? Yes No 9.What topics do you think will be useful in the future? Statistics Marketing Management Accounting Finance Commercial Law 10. Please rank the following 5 subjects studied during university according to your preference( give the rank 1 to the most preferred subject, rank 2 for the second preferred subject and so on until the rank 5 for the least preferred subject ) : Statistics Marketing Management Accounting Finance

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11.Divide 100 points among each of the following subjects according to their relevance for future usage: 1. Statistics 2. Marketing 3. Management 4. Accounting 5. Finance 6. Commercial law 12.How important do you consider the use of visual presentations during courses? Very important Important Neither important, nor unimportant Not important Not at all important 13. Please indicate your opinion related to the following statement: " All the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation." Strongly agree Neither agree, nor disagree Strongly disagree

Agree

Disagree

14.How many hours per week would you consider enough for studying each subject? 15

15. Are you satisfied with the quality of the materials used for teaching ? Yes No 16. If you were to choose again, would you still have Transilvania University as a choice for qualitative teaching and positive future prospects? Yes No 17. What is your monthly income? 0-1000 RON 1001-2000 RON 2001-Higher 18.Which is your gender? Female Male

19. In what environment do you live?

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Urban Rural 20.How old are you? 18-25 26-35 36-45

5. RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH


5.1. Analysis of each question
Question no. 1

1.Why did you choose to study at the Transylvania University?

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Case Summary Cases Valid N $reasonsa 55 Percent 87.3% N 8 Missing Percent 12.7% N 63 Total Percent 100.0%

a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

Frequencies Responses N Multiple response set for reasons


a

Percent 25 18 11 6 60 41.7% 30.0% 18.3% 10.0% 100.0%

Percent of Cases 45.5% 32.7% 20.0% 10.9% 109.1%

It has good teachers I live near the university It is cheap My parents decided for me

Total a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

The results of this question show that most students, 41.7% , have chosen this university because it has good teachers. 30% chose Transilvania University because they live near the university and 18.3% consider it cheap. The rest of 10 % say that the decision of going here belonged to their parents.

Question no. 2

2.What is your specialisation?


From the respondents of this survey, most are students of the Business Administration (EN) Faculty, representing 35.5% , followed by students from the Faculty of Management, and the Faculty of Finance and Banking, with 12.9%. The Faculty of Accounting represents 11.3 %, and the Informatics applied in economics has a percentage of 8.1%. The next faculties have an equal percentage of 6.5%, and belong to the Faculties of Marketing, Business Administration (RO) and Tourism.

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Frequencies Cumulative Frequency Valid Marketing Business Administration (RO) Management Finance and Banking Informatics applied in economics Tourism Business Administration (EN) Accounting Total Missing Total System 7 62 1 63 11.1 98.4 1.6 100.0 11.3 100.0 100.0 4 22 6.3 34.9 6.5 35.5 53.2 88.7 8 8 5 12.7 12.7 7.9 12.9 12.9 8.1 25.8 38.7 46.8 4 4 Percent 6.3 6.3 Valid Percent 6.5 6.5 Percent 6.5 12.9

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Question no. 3

Why did you choose this specialisation?

Case Summary Cases Valid N $question3


a

Missing N 0 Percent .0% N

Total Percent 63 100.0%

Percent 63 100.0%

a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

Frequencies Responses N question 3


a

Percent 42 9 2 24 77 54.5% 11.7% 2.6% 31.2% 100.0%

Percent of Cases 66.7% 14.3% 3.2% 38.1% 122.2%

I want to work in this field To get a diploma easily I want to become a teacher To improve my knowledge

Total a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

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54.5 % of the students have answered that they have chosen this specialisation because they want to work in this field, while 31.2% want to improve their knowledge. Only 2.6 % want to become teachers in their field, and the rest of 11.7 % think they can get a diploma easily.

Question no. 4

Are you satisfied by the curriculum?


Statistics

Are you satisfied by the curriculum? N Valid Missing 63 0

Are you satisfied by the curriculum?

Cumulative Frequency Valid no yes Total 21 42 63 Percent 33.3 66.7 100.0 Valid Percent 33.3 66.7 100.0 Percent 33.3 100.0

The majority of the students have declared to be satisfies by the educational curriculum, representing 66.7% of the total 63 respondents. The rest of 33.3 % declared otherwise.

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Question no. 5

Would you like any of the following reforms to be made?

Case Summary Cases Valid N $suggestionsa 62 Percent 98.4% N 1 Missing Percent 1.6% N 63 Total Percent 100.0%

a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

$suggestions Frequencies Responses N sugg5a Decrease the number of lectures Increase the number of lectures 5 5.7% 8.1% 19 Percent 21.8% Percent of Cases 30.6%

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Include more student seminars Introduce group discussions Make use of audiovisual aid Total a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

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19.5%

27.4%

31 15 87

35.6% 17.2% 100.0%

50.0% 24.2% 140.3%

According to the table and the graph, students do feel the need for a change and have chosen from the multiple answers the option Introduce group discussions the most, with a percentage of 35.6%. The next preference of the students is identified as to Decrease the number of student seminars with a percentage of 21.8 percent, followed by the option Include more student seminars, with a close percentage of 19.5 %. 17.2% of students have chosen also Make use of audiovisual aids , while the least percentage was given to the option Increase the number of lectures .

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Question no. 6

The following subjects are relevant for each specialisation. What opinion did you gather from your seniors regarding the following subjects?

Statistics Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 11 29 13 10 63 Percent 17.5 46.0 20.6 15.9 100.0 Valid Percent 17.5 46.0 20.6 15.9 100.0 Cumulative Percent 17.5 63.5 84.1 100.0

Management

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful nor useful, nor unuseful Total 32 25 6 63

Percent 50.8 39.7 9.5 100.0

Valid Percent 50.8 39.7 9.5 100.0

Cumulative Percent 50.8 90.5 100.0

Marketing

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 23 31 8 1 63

Percent 36.5 49.2 12.7 1.6 100.0

Valid Percent 36.5 49.2 12.7 1.6 100.0

Cumulative Percent 36.5 85.7 98.4 100.0

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Commercial Law

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 9 33 17 4 63

Percent 14.3 52.4 27.0 6.3 100.0

Valid Percent 14.3 52.4 27.0 6.3 100.0

Cumulative Percent 14.3 66.7 93.7 100.0

Information Technology

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 19 22 19 3 63

Percent 30.2 34.9 30.2 4.8 100.0

Valid Percent 30.2 34.9 30.2 4.8 100.0

Cumulative Percent 30.2 65.1 95.2 100.0

Mathematics

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 13 22 16 12 63

Percent 20.6 34.9 25.4 19.0 100.0

Valid Percent 20.6 34.9 25.4 19.0 100.0

Cumulative Percent 20.6 55.6 81.0 100.0

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Accounting

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 16 28 15 4 63

Percent 25.4 44.4 23.8 6.3 100.0

Valid Percent 25.4 44.4 23.8 6.3 100.0

Cumulative Percent 25.4 69.8 93.7 100.0

Finance

Frequency Valid Very useful Useful Nor useful, nor unuseful Unuseful Total 23 24 11 5 63

Percent 36.5 38.1 17.5 7.9 100.0

Valid Percent 36.5 38.1 17.5 7.9 100.0

Cumulative Percent 36.5 74.6 92.1 100.0

This question analyses the way students see some basic subjects that are thought in every specialisation of the Faculty of Economics. The first subject is Statistics, which has received most votes as being Useful. Secondly, the subject Management is considered by most students Very Useful, with a precentage of over 50%. Next is Marketing which gets the mark Useful by 49% of the students. Commercial Law is 52.4% considered Useful. Information Technology has close percentages for Very useful , Useful and Nor useful, nor unuseful. Mathematics is considered to be Useful, with a percentage of 34.9%. Accounting gets the mark Useful with a percentage of 44.4%, and Finance is also considered Useful by 38.1% of the respondents.

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Question no. 7

Which topics do you find interesting?


Frequencies Responses N interesting
a

Percent 8 37 40 10 19 10 10 16 150 5.3% 24.7% 26.7% 6.7% 12.7% 6.7% 6.7% 10.7% 100.0%

Percent of Cases 12.7% 58.7% 63.5% 15.9% 30.2% 15.9% 15.9% 25.4% 238.1%

Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics Accounting Finance

Total

The study shows that students consider the most interesting subjects Marketing, with a percentage of 26.7% and Management, with a close percentage of 24.7%. The next subject that is interesting, according to the students, is Information Technology, with a percentage of 12.7%. Finance gets a percentage of 10.7% and Commercial law,

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Mathematics and Accounting have equal percentages of 6.7%. The least interesting subject is considered to be Statistics, with a score of 5.3%.

Question no.8

Would you prefer different teaching methods?

Would you like different teaching methods? N Valid Missing 62 1

Would you like different teaching methods? Cumulative Frequency Valid no yes Total Missing Total System 16 46 62 1 63 Percent 25.4 73.0 98.4 1.6 100.0 Valid Percent 25.8 74.2 100.0 Percent 25.8 100.0

The answers to this questions reveal the fact that 74.2% of the students would prefer different teaching methods, while the rest of 25.8% dont.

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Question no. 9

What topics do you think will be useful in the future?


Case Summary Cases Valid N $useful9
a

Missing N 0 Percent .0% N 63

Total Percent 100.0%

Percent 100.0%

63

a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

$useful9 Frequencies Responses N useful


a

Percent 8.6% 31.4% 25.0%

Percent of Cases 19.0% 69.8% 55.6%

Statistics Marketing Management

12 44 35

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Accounting Finance Commercial aw Total

18 18 13 140

12.9% 12.9% 9.3% 100.0%

28.6% 28.6% 20.6% 222.2%

a. Dichotomy group tabulated at value 1.

According to the students opinions, the greatest usefulness in the future will belong to the subject Marketing , with a percentage of 31.4%, followed by Management, with a score of 25%. Equal opinions go for Accounting and Finance, who both have been voted by 12.9% of the students. Commercial Law has been chosen by 9.3% of the students, and the least checked one is Statistics, with a percentage of 8.6%.

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Question no.10

Please rank the following 5 subjects studied during university according to your preference (give the rank 1 to the most preferred subject, rank 2 for the second preferred subject and so on until the rank 5 for the least preferred subject)
Descriptive Statistics N Statistics Marketing Management Accounting Finance Valid N (listwise) 63 63 63 63 63 63 Minimum 1 1 1 1 1 Maximum 5 5 5 6 5 Mean 3.48 2.27 2.44 3.51 3.52 Std. Deviation 1.605 1.310 1.228 1.176 1.176

The results of this questions show that, according to the students, the least preferred subject of all the 5 listed is Finance, followed closely by Accounting. On the third place is Statistics. The second place is occupied by Management, and the most preferred subject of all 5 is Marketing, with a mean of 2.27.

Question no.11

Divide 100 points among each of the following subjects according to their relevance for future usage:

Descriptive Statistics N Statistics Marketing Management Accounting Finance Commercial Law Valid N (listwise) 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 Minimum 0 0 0 0 0 0 Maximum 60 100 100 65 90 40 Mean 18.59 26.95 25.44 15.13 15.86 11.37 Std. Deviation 16.303 23.390 21.031 12.328 14.242 8.371

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The most useful subject to be in the future is considered to be Marketing, with a mean of 26.95, followed by Management with a mean of 25.44. Next, on the third place, is situated Statistics, with a score of 18.59 and on the forth place is Finance, with a mean of 15.86. The last two subjects are considered Accounting, having a mean of 15.13, and Commercial Law, with a mean of 11.37.

Question no.12

How important do you consider the use of visual presentations during courses?

How important do you consider the use of visual presentations during courses?

Frequency Valid Very important Important Neither important nor unimportant Not important Total 30 24 8 1 63

Percent 47.6 38.1 12.7 1.6 100.0

Valid Percent 47.6 38.1 12.7 1.6 100.0

Cumulative Percent 47.6 85.7 98.4 100.0

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Students, more specifically,47.6% of them, consider the use of audiovisual aid Very Important . 38.1% consider it Important , while 12.7% consider it Nor important, nor unimportant . The rest of 1.6% see it as Unimportant .

Question no.13

Please indicate your opinion related to the following statement: " All the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation."

Please indicate your opinion related to the following statement Frequency Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Valid Disagree Strongly disagree Total 12 5 63 19.0 7.9 100.0 19.0 7.9 100.0 92.1 100.0 5 26 15 Percent 7.9 41.3 23.8 Valid Percent 7.9 41.3 23.8 Cumulative Percent 7.9 49.2 73.0

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The greatest percentage goes to Agree (41.3%). The next percentage is owned by Neither agree, nor disagree, with 23.8%, followed by Disagree, with a percentage of 19%. The last ones are Strongly agree and Strongly disagree, with 7.9 %.

Question no. 14

How many hours per week would you consider enough for studying each subject?

Descriptive Statistics N How many hours would you consider enough for studying each subject? Valid N (listwise) 63 63 Minimum 0 Maximum 35 Sum 397 Mean 6.30 Std. Deviation 8.010 Variance 64.162

From 63 respondents, the mean of the answers is 6.30. This is the average hours that the students consider necessary for studying one subject per week.

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Question no. 15

Are you satisfied with the quality of the materials used for teaching ?

Are you satisfied by the quality of the materials used for teaching? Cumulative Frequency Valid no yes Total 27 36 63 Percent 42.9 57.1 100.0 Valid Percent 42.9 57.1 100.0 Percent 42.9 100.0

57.1% of the students are satisfied by the quality of the materials used for teaching, while the rest of 42.9% are not

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.Estimation of parameters

Descriptives Statistic Are you satisfied by the quality of the materials used for teaching? Mean 95% Confidence Interval for Mean 5% Trimmed Mean Median Variance Std. Deviation Minimum Maximum Range Interquartile Range Skewness Kurtosis Lower Bound Upper Bound .57 .45 .70 .58 1.00 .249 .499 0 1 1 1 -.296 -1.976 .302 .595 Std. Error .063

We can guarantee with a probability of 95%, at the researched population level, that the mean of the answers of the respondents can have values situated between [0.45; 0.7]. The sample error is of 0.12,value that is added and after, decreased from the mean of the sample to obtain the confidence level.

Question no. 16

If you were to choose again, would you still have Transilvania University as a choice for qualitative teaching and positive future prospects?
Cumulative Frequency Valid no yes Total 17 46 63 Percent 27.0 73.0 100.0 Valid Percent 27.0 73.0 100.0 Percent 27.0 100.0

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This question received mostly positive answers, with a percentage of 73% and negative answers in proportion of 27%.

Question no. 17

What is your monthly income?

Statistics What is your monthly income ? N Valid Missing Mean Std. Error of Mean Median Mode Std. Deviation 62 1 1.35 .073 1.00 1 .575

What is your monthly income ? Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

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Valid

0-1000 1001-2000 ron 2001-higher Total

43 16 3 62 1 63

68.3 25.4 4.8 98.4 1.6 100.0

69.4 25.8 4.8 100.0

69.4 95.2 100.0

Missing Total

System

The majority of the students are situated in the income category 0-1000 RON, with a percentage of 68.3%, followed by the category 1001-2000 RON, with 25.4%. Only 4.8% of the students have an income of 2000 Ron or higher. There is one value missing.

Question no. 18

Which is your gender? 38

Which is your gender? Cumulative Frequency Valid Female Male Total Missing Total 99 40 22 62 1 63 Percent 63.5 34.9 98.4 1.6 100.0 Valid Percent 64.5 35.5 100.0 Percent 64.5 100.0

The majority of the respondents are of feminine gender 64.5 %, and the rest are of male gender 35.5%.

Estimation of parameters

Descriptives Statistic What is your specialisation ? Mean 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 4.71 4.15 5.27 Std. Error .280

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5% Trimmed Mean Median Variance Std. Deviation Minimum Maximum Range Interquartile Range Skewness Kurtosis

4.68 4.00 4.865 2.206 1 9 8 3 .515 -.364 .304 .599

We can guarantee with a probability of 95%, at the researched population level, that the mean of the genders of the respondents can have values situated between [4.15; 5.27]. The sample error is of 0.56.

Question no. 19

In what environment do you live?

In what environment do you live? Cumulative Frequency Valid Urban Rural Total 50 13 63 Percent 79.4 20.6 100.0 Valid Percent 79.4 20.6 100.0 Percent 79.4 100.0

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Only 20.6% of the students that answered to this questionnaire live in the rural environment, whilst the rest of 79.4% live in the urban environment.

Question no. 20

How old are you?

Statistics How old are you? N Valid Missing Mean Std. Error of Mean Median Mode Std. Deviation Variance 63 0 1.13 .042 1.00 1 .336 .113

How old are you?

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Cumulative Frequency Valid 18-25 26-35 Total 55 8 63 Percent 87.3 12.7 100.0 Valid Percent 87.3 12.7 100.0 Percent 87.3 100.0

87.3 % of the students are aged between 18-25 years , and the rest of 12.7 % are aged between 26-35 years.

6. Testing the hypotheses of the research


1. H0 : More than 60% of the students are satisfied by the educational curriculum. H1 : Less than 60% of the students are satisfied by the educational curriculum.

One-Sample Statistics N Are you satisfied by the quality of the materials used for teaching? 63 Mean .57 Std. Deviation .499 Std. Error Mean .063

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One-Sample Test Test Value = 0 95% Confidence Interval of the Mean t Are you satisfied by the quality of the materials used for teaching? 9.092 df 62 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 Difference .571 Difference Lower .45 Upper .70

Because the value of sig. = 0, we can say that sig. 0.05 and that we accept the first hypothesis, which claims that more than 60% of the students are satisfied by the curriculum.

2. H0 : At least 85% of the students agree that all the subjects studied during university
are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation. H1 : At most 85% of the students agree that all the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation.

H0: =0.85 H1: 0.85

One-Sample Statistics N Please indicate your opinion related to the following statement 63 Mean 2.78 Std. Deviation 1.099 Std. Error Mean .138

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One-Sample Test Test Value = 0.85 95% Confidence Interval of the Mean t Please indicate your opinion related to the following statement 20.061 df 62 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 Difference 2.778 Lower 2.50 Difference Upper 3.05

Because the value of sig. = 0, we can say that sig. 0.05 and that we accept the first hypothesis, which claims that at least 85% of the students agree that all the subjects studied during university are necessary for the students to find a job easily after graduation, but considering the fact that x = 2.47, we accept the second hypothesis.

3. H0 : At most 50% of the students would prefer different teaching methods.


H1: At least 50% of the students would prefer different teaching methods.

H0: =0.5 H1: 0.5


One-Sample Statistics N Would you like different teaching methods? 62 Mean .74 Std. Deviation .441 Std. Error Mean .056

One-Sample Test Test Value = 0.5 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference Lower Upper

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One-Sample Test Test Value = 0.5 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference t Would you like different teaching methods? 4.318 df 61 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 Mean Difference .242 Lower .13 Upper .35

Because the value of sig. = 0, we can say that sig. 0.05 and that we accept the first hypothesis, which claims that At most 50% of the students would prefer different teaching methods, but considering the fact that x = 0.47, we accept the second hypothesis. 4. H0: Students of Transilvania University have identified more than 2 subjects that are not useful in the near future. H1: Students of Transilvania University have identified less than 2 subjects that are not useful in the near future.

H0: =2 H1: 2
One-Sample Statistics N Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics Finance Accounting 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 Mean 2.35 1.59 1.79 2.25 2.10 2.43 1.97 2.11 Std. Deviation .953 .663 .722 .782 .893 1.027 .933 .863 Std. Error Mean .120 .084 .091 .099 .112 .129 .118 .109

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One-Sample Test Test Value = 2 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference t Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics Finance Accounting 2.908 -4.939 -2.269 2.577 .847 3.311 -.270 1.021 df 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 Sig. (2-tailed) .005 .000 .027 .012 .400 .002 .788 .311 Mean Difference .349 -.413 -.206 .254 .095 .429 -.032 .111 Lower .11 -.58 -.39 .06 -.13 .17 -.27 -.11 Upper .59 -.25 -.02 .45 .32 .69 .20 .33

Because the value of sig. =0.005; 0; 0.027; 0.012; 0.4; 0.002; 0.788; 0.311 , we can say that sig. 0.05 and that we accept the second hypothesis, which claims that students of Transilvania University have identified less than 2 subjects that are not useful in the near future. 5. H0: The students of Transilvania University find in average at most 3 subjects useful. H1: The students of Transilvania University find in average at least 3 subjects useful. H0: =3 H1: 3
One-Sample Statistics N Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics 63 63 63 63 63 63 Mean 2.35 1.59 1.79 2.25 2.10 2.43 Std. Deviation .953 .663 .722 .782 .893 1.027 Std. Error Mean .120 .084 .091 .099 .112 .129

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Finance Accounting

63 63

1.97 2.11

.933 .863

.118 .109

One-Sample Test Test Value = 2 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference t Statistics Management Marketing Commercial Law Information Technology Mathematics Finance Accounting 2.908 -4.939 -2.269 2.577 .847 3.311 -.270 1.021 df 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 Sig. (2-tailed) .005 .000 .027 .012 .400 .002 .788 .311 Mean Difference .349 -.413 -.206 .254 .095 .429 -.032 .111 Lower .11 -.58 -.39 .06 -.13 .17 -.27 -.11 Upper .59 -.25 -.02 .45 .32 .69 .20 .33

Because the value of sig. =0.005; 0; 0.027; 0.012; 0.4; 0.002; 0.788; 0.311 , we can say that sig. 0.05 and that we accept the second hypothesis, which claims that the

students of Transilvania University find in average at least 3 subjects useful. Analysing the correlations between the variables of the research, based on the tables of contingency

1.

H0: There is no relationship between the specialization of the students

and their satisfaction regarding the curriculum. H1: There is a relationship between the specialization of the students and their satisfaction regarding the curriculum.

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The previous table shows the distribution of students by specialization, grouped by their satisfaction regarding the curriculum. From the brief analysis of the differences between the observed frequencies and the expected ones, we can see that there are differences at the level of all the subgroups, resulted from the cross tabulation of the variables. Both for those who are satisfied by the curriculum and those who are not, the expected count is lower than the one observed for each category.

2. H0:

There is no difference between the satisfaction regarding the teaching

methods of the male and female respondents. H1: There is a difference between the satisfaction regarding the teaching

methods of the male and female respondents.

Would you like different teaching methods? * Which is your gender? Crosstabulation Which is your gender? Female Would you like different no Count 6 Male 10 Total 16

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teaching methods? yes

Expected Count Count Expected Count

10.2 33 28.8 39 39.0

5.8 12 16.2 22 22.0

16.0 45 45.0 61 61.0

Total

Count Expected Count

The previous table shows the distribution of students by gender, grouped by their satisfaction regarding the teaching methods. From the brief analysis of the differences between the observed frequencies and the expected ones, we can see that there are differences at the level of all the subgroups, resulted from the cross tabulation of the variables.
Chi-Square Tests Asymp. Sig. (2Value Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correction Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases 6.465 61 1 .011
b

Exact Sig. (2sided)

Exact Sig. (1sided)

df 1 1 1

sided) .010 .024 .011

6.573a 5.111 6.401

.016

.013

a. 0 cells (.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 5.77. b. Computed only for a 2x2 table

Symmetric Measures Value Nominal by Nominal N of Valid Cases Contingency Coefficient .312 61 Approx. Sig. .010

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CONCLUSIONS
This research has shown many facts useful for this university and for future changes that can take place. After analyzing the opinions of the students, it has been proven, that, for the majority of them, the teaching methods need to be changed, as the students are not satisfied. The causes of this result are not yet shown in this case study, but can be revealed, if they are further researched. Furthermore, most of the students have chosen to come to Transilvania University because it has good teachers. One conclusion that can be drawn from these two results is that, there is no problem with the teachers, but with their methods of teaching. Also, to improve the quality of the courses, students have co-opted for introducing group discussions, which can probably motivate them to know more about the subjects that they study by encouraging competition. The opinions and attitudes of students are not so negative, as because, when asked if they were to choose again Transilvania University, they would have the same choice, the majority answered Yes. After analyzing all the variables, it has been shown that Transilvania University offers quality lectors and teachers and includes very useful subjects for the students of the Faculty of Economics into the curriculum. Students are convinced that the subjects and materials will have a future useful life, that will help them throughout their careers.

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