A Study of Teaching and Testing Strategies for a Required Statistics Course for Undergraduate Business Students

In this investigation of student performance in introductory business statistics classes, the authors performed two separate controlled studies to compare performance in (a) distance-learning versus traditionally-delivered courses and (b) multiplechoice versus problem-solving tests. Results of the first study, based on the authors' several semesters of experience teaching the course in both distance-learning and traditional formats, show that the distance-learning students did not fare as well as those taking the course in the traditional format. The results of the second study, in which a common set of students took both multiple-choice and written exams in the same semester, showed no significant difference in performance.