James Ullmer & Kong Chen
This research uses a pre and post survey to examine changes in student attitudes toward economics during a semester of introductory economics. The sample consisted of three classes of principles of microeconomics—a traditional class open to the entire student body, a strictly Honors course, and an online class of introductory microeconomics. Four measures of student attitude were developed and assessed. We show that undergraduate student attitudes toward economics can be favorably influenced because of their experiences in a principles of microeconomics course. Also, the impact on student attitudes seems to be more pronounced among Honors students than in the general student body. Finally, and most significantly, Honors students enrolled in a strictly Honors course have a larger positive change in attitude—statistically significant in two of the four metrics measured—than their cohorts in a regular face-to-face class or online principles course.