Journal de l'économie mondiale

An Epistemological and Pattern Analysis of Empirical Data that Influences Emergency Loan Need Among Graduate Students

Abstract

Idemudia EC and Ferguson R

This analysis studies closely education affordability through the epistemology of emergency loan need that signals economic challenges on the horizon for domestic and international students seeking a post graduate credential at any cost. Prior studies have been very helpful; however, to the best of our knowledge there is not a comprehensive study that has investigated the comparison of small vs. large emergency student loans taken out by graduate students. Also, to the best of our knowledge and to date there are no studies that have investigated the patterns and relationships among ethnicity, gender, marital status, degree type, and college awarded for both small vs. large emergency loans. To fill the gaps in the literature, we conducted our research by collecting datasets from 335 graduate students enrolled in a large public university located in North America. Our data analysis provides strong indicators and evidence that both small and large emergency loan needs exist in a diverse spectrum of colleges, degree types, ethnicities, genders, ages, and marital statuses. Also, the regression analysis indicates that there is not a significant relationship between GPA and emergency loan needs for both small and large loans. We also, used data mining technique to investigate patters and relationships among ethnicity, gender, marital status, degree type, and college awarded for both small vs. large emergency loans. Our study contains vast research and managerial implications for both academia and top managements.