Need Analysis of Business Students’ Preferences: A Holistic approach to Experiential Learning

Abstract

The study conducts a need analysis for business students’ preference with regards to experiential learning. Two parallel questionnaires were administered to business students (N=125): i) Original version of Course Experience Questionnaire (Ramsden1991) and ii) Experiential Learning Orientation Questionnaire (ELOQ)- developed by employing Miller and Seller’s (1985) frameworks of transaction and transformative to experiential learning. CEQ measured good teaching; clear goal setting; appropriate workload, appropriate assessment and generic skills development, in conjunction with ELOQ designed to measure five facets of experiential learning. The preferential needs of the learners were identified by applying Pearson Product Moment Correlation that revealed strong positive correlation between the two scales, r= 0.826. The findings of the study suggested active involvement of business students with regards to need analysis. The results offered a sound basis for considering business students’ preferences in determining the nature of tasks and activities in the curriculum by providing them multiple experiential learning opportunities. Limitations of and recommendations for future research are also discussed in the study.