The impact of using a mobile app on learning success in accounting education

ABSTRACT We examine the impact of a gamified mobile learning application on students’ exam success in a mandatory introductory accounting course. The app was developed with the particular needs of first-year students in mind. It provides elements like quizzes as well as organizational and communicative elements helping students structure their daily life at university. The results indicate that serious app users achieve a significantly higher score in the final exam than non-serious users. We apply three approaches, including OLS and 2SLS regression, and an identification strategy based on students who re-take the course to show the app's positive effect. Especially the 2SLS approach, which addresses the issue of self-selection, may add valuable insights into the use of mobile technology in accounting education. This study not only contributes to the ongoing research on the effects of mobile technology in higher education but also sheds light on the determinants of student success.