Student’s Perspective On Factors Influencing Academic Performance In Introductory Accounting

The study sought to investigate factors influencing academic performance in introductory Accounting courses at Universities in Zimbabwe. The focus of the research was on getting a non–accounting major students ’ perspective on the association between learner’s background, institutional factors, attitude towards accounting courses and lecturer related issues to their success or failure in foundational accounting courses. Out of around thirteen universities in Zimbabwe, a convenience sample of five universities was done due to financial constraints. A sample of thirty students from each university was given the questionnaire, giving a total of 150 students. Since data collected was categorical the chi-square test was used to determine whether there is a significant association between passing an introductory accounting course and the various factors. The relative strength of an association was measured using Cramer’s V. Coefficient since it is not affected by sample size. The findings were that there is a strong association between success in foundational accounting courses and students thoroughness in examinatio