Interest in Learning Queuing Theory and its Applications among Final-Year Mathematics Students

Source abstract

Queuing Theory is an important area of applied mathematics concerned with the mathematical analysis of waiting-line and service systems. Its applications extend to banking, healthcare, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing, computer networks and other service sectors. The extent to which students are interested in learning both the theoretical concepts and practical applications of Queuing Theory is an important consideration in Mathematics education. The present study was undertaken to examine the interest in learning Queuing Theory and its applications among final-year Mathematics students. The study adopted the normative survey method. The sample consisted of 200 final-year Mathematics students drawn from Government and Private Arts and Science Colleges in Karaikal, comprising 136 undergraduate students and 64 postgraduate students. The sample included 100 male and 100 female students. An Interest Inventory on Learning Queuing Theory and Its Applications, with a maximum score of 100, was used for data collection. The overall mean score was 64.60. The mean score for interest in learning Queuing Theory was 30.24, while the mean score for interest in learning its applications was 34.36. Differential analysis was conducted using the independent-samples t-test. The results showed no significant difference between undergraduate and postgraduate students in their interest in learning Queuing Theory and its applications. However, a statistically significant difference was found between male and female students, with male students obtaining a higher mean score. The findings indicate that students demonstrated comparatively greater interest in the applications of Queuing Theory than in its theoretical component. The study highlights the importance of application-oriented approaches in teaching applied mathematics.