The Nature of Introductory Economics Courses / James Koscielniak.

This survey provides information about the content of introductory economic courses. Responses from 62 midwestern college and university instructors of introductory economics characterize the content, methods, texts, and conceptual approaches currently used. Results of the study show that introductory courses teach supply and demand, product markets, national income accounts, fiscal policy, monetary policy, factor markets, consumer choice, and international economics. Community college instructors also tend to include history of economic thought, current economic problems, and comparative economic systems. Ninety-five percent of the instructors lecture--most with the reinforcement of discussion and programmed or audiovisual materials. Two texts, Samuelson's and McConnell's, are the most widely used. A macro-microeconomics approach to the course is used by 94 percent of the instructors. Our present, unpredicted economic state, compared with the relatively unvaried content of economic courses, suggests the need for new approaches, among them, perhaps, a chronological study of economic analysis, world-wide economic models, emphasis on psychological and philosophic determinants, and others. (JH)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.