Influence of Course Delivery Method and Proctoring on Performance in Introductory Economics

This work was published in the Review of Agricultural Economics. See Wachenheim, C.J. 2009. Final Exam Scores in Introductory Economics Courses: Effect of Course Delivery Method and Proctoring. Review of Agricultural Economics 31(3), pp. 640-652.Online, Assessment, Education, Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

GROWING AND MAINTAINING VIABLE STUDENT CHAPTERS OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: THE CASE OF THE NATIONAL AGRIMARKETING ASSOCIATION

There are 35 accredited student chapters of the National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA) from 24 states and 3 Canadian Provinces. Membership in a NAMA student chapter allows students to network with professionals, develop their marketing and communication skills, and develop leadership and team-building skills. A survey of student chapter advisors was used to identify what facilitates and what constrains student chapter success. Advisors indicated the opportunity and enjoyment of the national conference and professional and career development opportunities to be the most important reasons students participate in student NAMA. The opportunity to network with professionals, they noted to be the most important advantage of participation, followed by experience in developing/presenting a formal marketing plan. A clear consensus among advisors was that the students themselves make student NAMA successful, in particular the leadership skills of students. They also indicated that students themselves can make student NAMA unsuccessful, particularly when they are not motivated. Other threads of concern include constraint on faculty time, lack of support from the university (financial, student credit hours), and a professional chapter. Professional NAMA should take advantage of its focus of marketing to help grow and maintain viable student chapters. The value of student NAMA needs to be marketed to students, faculty-advisors, academic administrators, and professionals. Professional members can get to know the students and provide tangible incentives to encourage them to network. They can help faculty recruit students and encourage/entice them to be active in the student and the professional NAMA chapters, can provide financial assistance to the student organization, and can help faculty market student NAMA throughout the university. Academic advisors can get to know their professional members, work with them to recruit highly motivated students, and ensure the proper incentives are in place to help maintain student motivation.National AgriMarketing Association, marketing, student organizations, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

HOW AN ONLINE COURSE COMPARES

Student satisfaction with and performance in an on-line agrisales course is compared with that of students enrolled in a simultaneously-taught classroom course. Assessment tools are developed for both sections. Online and classroom students were equally satisfied with the course and the instructor using most measures, but had different motivators for course enrollment. Overall student performance did not differ, but the composition of such was unique for each group. Results suggest instructors be well prepared to handle unique learner situations prior to marketing an online course.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Final Exam Scores in Introductory Economics Courses: Effect of Course Delivery Method and Proctoring

There is a small but growing body of research exploring student learning in online courses. The current study compares student performance on the final exam in introductory economics courses taught online and in the classroom and considers the effect of proctoring the final exam. Students who took a course in the classroom did better on a proctored final exam than those taking the course online.cheating, economics, online delivery, proctored exams, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

NORTH DAKOTA SHOPPER PERCEPTIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS AND FOOD: RESULTS OF A WINTER 2003 SURVEY

Replaced with revised version of paper 07/23/04.Biotechnology, Genetic Modification, Consumer Preferences, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

PROFITS AND RISK: FITTING AN OLD FRAMEWORK TO A NEW AGRICULTURE

Textbooks in agricultural economics characterize resources used in production agriculture into four categories: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurial ability. Profit is presented as earned by management. This traditional list of resources is respecified. Management is redefined as a specialized type of labor and two additional resources, information and risk bearing capacity, are added. Profits accrue not to management but to those able to bear the risk inherent in production agriculture. Equity diversification is a means for farmers to provide and manage this resource and, thus, earn economic profits. Producer education and the repeal or amendment of legislation restricting the ability of farmers to diversify their equity investment are needed.agriculture, equity diversification, farm management, information, resources, risk, Agricultural Finance,

CHANGING CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS ABOUT GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

University students took part in an experimental auction designed to elicit and estimate the influence of information bias on consumer willingness to pay for GM versus non-GM food products. Surveys before and after the auction queried participants on their perceptions about GM foods and the associated risks, and their beliefs and attitudes about the interaction between farming practices and the environment. Students received either positive- or negative-biased information about the impact of biotechnology on the environment during the auction. Consumer perceptions were influenced by information bias.Financial Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

ASSESSING NEW-GRADUATE APPLICANTS: ACADEMIC PERCEPTIONS AND AGRIBUSINESS REALITIES

This study empirically compares the level of importance assigned to the knowledge, skills, and experiences of applicants for entry-level positions by members of the agribusiness community and how these criteria were perceived by chairpersons of departments of agricultural economics. Chairpersons had a good understanding of criteria important to employers in evaluating applicants and how they prioritize these criteria. Communication and interpersonal skills were ranked as the most important criteria by both groups. Industry members assigned lower levels of importance for formal international training, an attribution largely shared by academic counterparts.agribusiness, agricultural economics, curriculum, international education, international exchanges, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

PERCEPTIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED AND ORGANIC FOODS AND PROCESSES: NORTH DAKOTA COLLEGE STUDENTS

Perceptions of genetically modified (GM) and organic food among North Dakota college students were elicited and compared. Participants responded to one of two survey instruments containing identical wording except for reference to genetic modification or organic, after reading a primer defining the term used in their instrument. Participants' indicated their level of agreement with statements in the construct areas of health, environment, ethics, regulation, and risk. Responses were compared among survey instruments and to responses to previous surveys of Americans and of shoppers in North Dakota. Organic food was perceived as a healthier and safer choice. Organic practices were perceived to be more environmentally sound. Respondents expressed a level of concern over the unknown effects GM food could have on the environment and society as a whole. However, participants generally felt that genetic modification could be used effectively and valued some of the associated benefits. Reliability assessment revealed that statements within each construct area are reliable and can be used in future surveys.Genetically Modified, Consumer Perceptions, Organic, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Consumer Willingness to Pay for Breads Marketed as "Low-Carbohydrate"

Bread producers are taking advantage of healthy feeding habits by developing new "low carbohydrate" products to entice customers. These low carbohydrate breads are generally more expensive than conventional types. This study tests the hypothesis that consumers are willing to pay higher premium for "low carbohydrate" breads at various locations and markets. We use retail data in a hedonic pricing framework to estimate the premium paid for the "low carbohydrate" attribute of bread. Results show that the implicit price of the "low carbohydrate" attribute of bread ranges from about 0.06¢ to 1.1¢ per gram, reflecting the amount consumers are willing to pay above the price of conventional bread.low carbohydrate bread, hedonic price, willingness to pay, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, D12,