An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Influencing Students Decisions To Take Online Courses Clara Dorado, Juanita Hernandez, Balkissa Sani Christopher Griffin, Ph.D. And William Barnett, Ph.D

Background Nationally Majority of academic institutions offer online courses Increased spending for CBT Increased penetration of high speed internet Louisiana Significant spending on distance and online education Widely dispersed rural population Often must run for our lives!!!

Nationally

Majority of academic institutions offer online courses

Increased spending for CBT

Increased penetration of high speed internet

Louisiana

Significant spending on distance and online education

Widely dispersed rural population

Often must run for our lives!!!

Research Goal ULM is working towards a specific profile for online students Capability Probability of Success Question – When choosing course delivery method (online/hybrid vs. traditional): What factors influence student decision making? What is the nature of this influence?

ULM is working towards a specific profile for online students

Capability

Probability of Success

Question – When choosing course delivery method (online/hybrid vs. traditional):

What factors influence student decision making?

What is the nature of this influence?

Literature Perception-based Influences Scheduling Issues Interaction with others Course quality Difficulty Acceptance by employers Influences based on Student Maturity Level of independence

Perception-based Influences

Scheduling Issues

Interaction with others

Course quality

Difficulty

Acceptance by employers

Influences based on Student

Maturity

Level of independence

Research Model Convenience H 1 (+) Level of Difficulty H 2 (-) Effectiveness H 3 (+) Social Interaction H 4 (+) Decision to take online/hybrid course

Data Collection Survey developed using items from literature Questionnaire items perception-based General demographic data also collected Sample Students choosing course delivery method Multiple disciplines represented N=146

Survey developed using items from literature

Questionnaire items perception-based

General demographic data also collected

Sample

Students choosing course delivery method

Multiple disciplines represented

N=146

Results Factor Analysis supported convergent validity of survey items Multiple Regression Four factor model significant at p=.000 Direction of coefficients support research model Hypothesis H 1 (CONV) p=.003 H 2 (LOD) p=.136 H 3 (EFF) p=.000 H 4 (SCL) p=.604

Factor Analysis supported convergent validity of survey items

Multiple Regression

Four factor model significant at p=.000

Direction of coefficients support research model

Hypothesis

H 1 (CONV) p=.003

H 2 (LOD) p=.136

H 3 (EFF) p=.000

H 4 (SCL) p=.604

Conclusions Interesting Points Most significant influence was Course Effectiveness Insignificant influence of Social Interaction not wholly unexpected Future Directions Explore impact of learning management system Expand study to include detailed analysis of demographic data Expand diversity of sample

Interesting Points

Most significant influence was Course Effectiveness

Insignificant influence of Social Interaction not wholly unexpected

Future Directions

Explore impact of learning management system

Expand study to include detailed analysis of demographic data

Expand diversity of sample

Questions?