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This study aims to analyze the effect of the use of different types of continuous assessment tests on students participation, performance and final grades. To this end, it examines the case of a second-year course from the degree program in Business Administration and Management offered by the Faculty of Economics at the Universidad Nacional de Educaci a Distancia (National Distance Education University, UNED) in Spain during the first two academic years it was available (2011/12 and 2012/13). This period offered two distinct scenarios, with a total of 1,450 students participating the first year and 1,809 in the second, due to the use of two online continuous assessment tests with different scoring systems. The goal was to analyze the influence of each of the continuous assessment systems used on student participation in both the continuous assessment test itself and the final exam, as well as on the grades earned on these tests, and students overall performance in the course. As a result of this research, conclusions were reached regarding the educational nature of these tests and their suitability as a true tool for monitoring and assessment at a distance university.

Spain is currently experiencing a difficult economic situation, and in recent years a significant change has been observed in the behavior of the demand for educational programs as a result of this situation. Recent studies reveal a change in student demand that does not have the same effect on all academic institutions. Bearing this behavior in mind, the present study focuses on providing an overview of the situation of the Spanish distance education university system over a six-year period, from the 2007/08 to the 2011/12 academic year, analyzing the different variables that influence the demand and new enrollment in official degree programs. We also conduct a comparative analysis of the patterns these variables follow depending on the methodology applied by the different universities examined in our study, making a distinction between classroom and distance education universities.

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An exhibitors' attendance at any trade show calls for designing and developing a preliminary plan, which must in turn be a part of the company's overall marketing plan, so that the decisions that are taken before, during, and after attending the trade show are in keeping with the company's sales and overall objectives. To achieve the desired sales and business performance, trade show objectives have to be set and defined as part of the strategic plan for attending the event, and this definition can have an influence on the final outcome the company achieves after the show. Taking this into account, and bearing in mind the particular case of trade shows aimed at final consumers, this paper describes a study based on cluster analysis aimed at grouping the different objectives that lead companies to attend trade shows and determine which of these objectives are most important for participating firms.