A Study of Economic Disparities among the Arts Undergraduates: Special Reference with Arts Undergraduates, University of Ruhuna

Abstract

The economic disparities have affected many people in various ways. It is unfortunate that university students are suffering from economic problems while they are still facing multiple other challenges. Low-income families are less likely to have the economic resources or time to support their university children. Hence, the study attempts to identify economic disparities among arts undergraduates of the University of Ruhuna under their economic background. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. The descriptive statistics were conducted to answer the research problem by employing the Mean, Standard Deviation and Frequency values of each variable. In this study we consider some specific variables such as household income, sources of income, area of living, parent’s job status, and part time job status in order to identify the economic disparities among Ruhuna Arts undergraduates. A descriptive statistical analysis identified as to how is the behaviour of these variables describe the economic disparities. One sample t-Test results indicated that there is a mean difference between the income data to the population mean and Chi square test identified that there is an association between household income and parent’s job status and undergraduates part time job status but not with the area of living. Findings of the study conclude that distribution of income levels differ with the parent’s job status, income sources, undergraduate’s part time job status. 38.9 percent of undergraduates who are in the 10,000-50,000-income level are staying at boding houses. Among them 62.9 Percent of students are staying at boding houses without receiving any scholarship. Considering identified economic disparities this study can conclude that the undergraduates need economic support in the form of hostel facilities, scholarships and opportunities within the universities to support their needy families.