The Effect of Department Types on the Academic Performance of First-Year Students in the Accounting and Statistics and informatics Departments at Sulaimani University: using ( MANOVA) Approach

Abstract

The academic performance of university students is influenced  by  various factors, including the department in which they are enrolled. Understanding these influences is essential for developing effective educational strategies and improving student outcomes. This study focuses on first-year students in the Accounting and Statistics and informatics departments at Sulaimani University, examining how the type of department affects their academic performance in ICT and Principles of Statistics classes. By utilizing the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) approach, this research aims to identify significant differences and underlying patterns in academic achievements between these two departments. The insights gained from this study can inform targeted interventions and support mechanisms to enhance educational effectiveness. Results showed that Statistics and informatics students outperformed Accounting students in both ICT and Principles of Statistics courses, with mean scores of 65.75 vs. 58.80 in ICT and 76.20 vs. 71.70 in Statistics, respectively. Box's test indicated significant differences in covariance matrices, suggesting that results should be interpreted with caution. Multivariate tests confirmed a strong departmental effect on performance, with partial eta squared values indicating substantial variance explained by the department. Levene's test showed unequal error variances for ICT but not for Statistics. Between-subjects effects analysis revealed highly significant differences between departments, with 93.6% and 97.3% of the variance in ICT and Statistics scores, respectively, explained by the department. Parameter estimates further highlighted the higher performance of Statistics and informatics students. Overall, the findings emphasize significant academic disparities favoring the Statistics department.