FACTORS EXPLAINING BUSINESS STUDENTS’ SUCCESS IN BUSINESS STATISTICS: A CASE FROM A SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL

Business Education & Accreditation
Vol. 14, No. 1, 2022, pp. 1-15
ISSN: 1944-5903 (print)
ISSN: 2157-0809 (online)

ABSTRACT
Statistical skills are strongly linked success in business studies, especially in analyzing risk and in the
financial sciences. Therefore, it is useful to acquire more knowledge about factors that can explain the
grades achieved in Business Statistics. The objective of this study is to identify variables that are related to
performance in Business Statistics among a cohort of business school students in Norway. By using linear
regression models, this study tries to identify the relationship between achievement in Business Statistics
and several independent variables, including gender, grade point average (GPA) from high school,
mathematical background, Big Five personality traits, and attitudes towards statistics (SATS-36). Only
attitudes towards statistics were significantly associated with the performance. There is a positive
correlation between success in Business Statistics and the two Cognitive Competence and Effort (from
SATS-36) dimensions. This is useful knowledge to ensure good results in Business Statistics.

JEL: A20, A22, M20
KEYWORDS: Gender, Big Five, Attitudes Towards Statistics, Mathematical Skills,
Regression Model, Success in Business Statistics, Norway, Business School