Combining Lectures and Case Studies in Teaching Financial Management to MBA Students: A Quantile Regression Exploration of the Impact on Learning Styles and Critical Thinking Skills

Abstract

In this paper we explore the impact of a teaching strategy based on lectures and mini case studies in teaching a financial management course to MBA students on student learning strategies and their performance, and on the development of critical thinking skills. Kolb’s LSI and the CCTST have been used to identify student learning styles and types, and their critical thinking skills respectively. Quantile Regression has been used in the analysis and presentation of results, which show that: a) final formation of learning styles affect in different ways student performance, b) diversification of effects of developed critical thinking skills on student performance, and c) different effects of the final patterns of student learning styles on each of five critical thinking skills subscales. Student learning styles identification and their critical thinking skills assessment as a way for improving teaching strategies is documented, quantile regression use is emphasized and further research methodology replication and corroboration of results is suggested.

Keywords: Learning styles, Critical thinking skills, Quantile regression

JEL Classification: A23, C49, C93