Improving the Success Rate in Statistics.

First year statistics is one of the 'problem' subjects in many institutions. At the University of Queensland in the School of Economics it is a compulsory course with a large enrolment, offered in both first and second semesters, and also across two campuses in semester one. Even though the course content, lecturing staff, mode of delivery, tutorials, PASS and online assessment are essentially the same in the two semesters, the outcomes to 2007 have been different. At the St Lucia campus the failure rate in semester 2 was over 10% higher than in semester 1. This paper explores some possible explanations for the difference as well as assessing the success of some of the changes that were implemented from 2007 to 2009.

Correcting for multiple destination trips in recreational use values using a mean-value approach; An application to Bellenden Ker National Park, Australia

This paper focuses on an empirical application of the travel cost method, to estimate the recreational use value of Bellenden Ker National Park, part of the Wet tropics World Heritage Area Queensland, Australia. Walking appears to be one of the main activities associated with recreational experiences in the region. Substantial socio-economic as well as environmental benefits are expected to be gained if the areas was to be developed further, with regard to walking tracks, provided that this would be done in an environmentally sustainable way. Two overnight tracks within the park have been selected to obtain information about visitors’ experiences with the tracks in the past, to address specific needs for possible future developments. A standard assumption for interpreting travel costs as a valid proxy for the price of a trip is that the travel cost be incurred exclusively to visit that particular site. However, this assumption often proves to be invalid as people tend to combine destinations. We propose a method commonly used in multi-criteria decision-making to correct for multiple trip bias. A value of $AUS 15.2 mln has been estimated as the net present value of recreational use in 2001 values at about six percent real rate of interest in perpetuity. This value appears to be rather small compared to other TCM studies undertaken in the area, for national parks that were similar in size and visitor numbers.multi-criteria analysis, multiple trip bias, travel cost method, Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Flexible Assessment in EC135

Quantitative Analysis in the Department of Economics has a large student enrolment and consequent heavy load on instructors. Assessment for many years has been through mid-semester and end of semester exams, as well as Computer Managed Learning (CML) assignments. This year, it was decided to incorporate a system of flexible assessment where neither the CML nor the mid-semester exam were compulsory. The outcomes are assessed and the advantages and disadvantages discussed

Biodiversity and the tourism value of Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China: a Travel Cost Approach

The recreational value of an outdoor site is reflected in a visitor's willingness to pay for the visit. This can sometimes be estimated using the Travel Cost Methodology (TCM) as the consumer surplus under the site demand curve. Based on a case study of Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR) located in Northeast China, this paper focuses on the recreational values of tourism using the TCM and speculates on the extent to which this value depends on the biodiversity present in CMBR

Effectiveness of PASS and Tutorials in EC135

Theory suggests that students retain more knowledge if they have engaged in deep rather than surface learning. The EC135 Quantitative Analysis course is one that students find challenging, but it is a compulsory as well as a prerequisite subject in the faculty. A survey investigated how well students retained knowledge, and sought relationships between retention of knowledge, methods used for studying, PASS and tutorial attendance, and grades achieved. It was found that regular tutorial attendance was a strong contributor to retention of knowledge and attainment of higher grades. Peer assisted study sessions (PASS) were valuable for those who participated, although the relative contribution of PASS and tutorials was difficult to identify since many students were strong users of both resources

Biodiversity and a Travel Cost Evaluation of Tourism: The Case of Changbaishan Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China

Recreational value of an outdoor site is reflected in a visitor's willingness to pay for the visit. This can sometimes be estimated using the Travel Cost Methodology (TCM) as the consumer's surplus under the site demand curve. Based on a case study of in Changbaishan Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR) located in Northeast China, this paper focuses on the recreational values of tourism using the Travel Cost Method and speculates about the extent to which this valuer depends on the biodiversity present in China

Estimation of community values of lakes: A study of Lake Mokoan in Victoria, Australia: A comment

Herath in Vol 29, No 1 (1999) reports welfare estimates using two forms of travel cost methodology (zonal and individual) as well as contingent valuation methodology. This note examines: (a) internal inconsistencies in the stage 1 estimation (of both the zonal and individual travel cost methodology), and the computation of number of visitors per year, and (b) methodological problems in the calculation of consumer surplus and the procedure used in the individual travel cost methodology. The note is concerned with practical estimation issues, not theoretical or econometric aspects