Abstract:
This study examined the factors affecting the performance of undergraduate students in
microeconomics at Vavuniya campus, Sri Lanka. For this purpose, a survey is conducted to collect the
data using a sample of 85 students, who enrolled in microeconomics during their first year first semester
in the academic year 2015/2016. The data on students’ performance in microeconomics measured in
terms of their grades they obtained for the subject, demographic characters with family background and
educational factors gathered from the questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using frequency,
chi- square test, ordered probit regression and marginal effects in the study. Frequency of the students’
grades revealed that, nearly 59% of them got grade B while 9.4% of them received grade A and 4.7%
of the students received grade D. Chi - square test found that family stress and frequency of the study
habits significantly associates with the students’ grades in the subject while the grade obtained in general
English in G.C.E (A/L) and the usage of library facilities were less associated in the study. Results
of ordinal probit model suggested that among the variables related to demographic characteristics
with family background, gender and family stress are the good predictors of student performance in
microeconomics whereas among educational factors allocation of time, economics as a subject taken by
the students in G.C.E (A/L), mathematics knowledge and the usage of library facilities are the other
best predictors in students’ performance in the subject.
