The Influence of Business Case Studies on Learning Styles: An Empirical Investigation
Accounting Education: An international journal
Posted: 15 Aug 2010
Date Written: June 2008
Abstract
The use of business case studies has been promoted frequently as a method for providing realistic learning scenarios and for developing accounting graduates who are active and independent learners. This article extends a recent study into the use of case studies (Adler et al. 2004, Accounting Education: an international journal, 13(2), 213–229). The results of the second survey confirm and extend those of the first, namely, that a lack of active involvement in cases results in less balanced learning styles. Further, even when students have experienced the benefits of active participation, the suspension of such involvement also leads to an erosion of learning style balance. That is, not only is it important to consider how case involvement occurs, it is also necessary to maintain business case activity. The result of noninvolvement is a stronger tendency to acquire information from theoretical bases rather than from concrete experience.
Keywords: case studies, learning styles, repeated studies, active learning
JEL Classification: I20, M40
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation