Do Entry Characteristics of Online Learners Affect Their Satisfaction?

New Search

Print Abstract

E-mail Abstract

Full Text

Save to My Collections

Export Citation

Yukselturk, E. (2009). Do Entry Characteristics of Online Learners Affect Their Satisfaction?. International Journal on E-Learning, 8(2), 263-281. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/25266.

• Share:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Journal Information

International Journal on E-Learning
ISSN 1537-2456
Volume 8, Issue 2, April 2009
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)  Chesapeake, VA

More Information on IJEL

Author

Erman Yukselturk, Middle East Technical University, Turkey

Abstract

This study analyzed learner characteristics that affect satisfaction in an online certificate program under two main purposes. The first purpose was to examine relationships among selected variables (age, gender, educational level, and online course experience), learners' initial perceptions (online technology self-efficacy, online learning readiness, locus of control, and prior knowledge about program courses) and learner satisfaction. The second purpose was to examine program instructors' views about the factors that contribute to the learners' satisfaction in the online certificate program. Sample of the study consisted of four program instructors and 103 voluntary participants who attended this online certificate program in 2005-2007. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect relevant data in this study. Six online questionnaires were used to gather quantitative variables and semistructured interviews were conducted to gather instructors' views. The statistical results indicated that three learner characteristics (educational level, online learning readiness, locus of control) showed a significant relationship with learner satisfaction. Also, the qualitative findings from interviews with instructors generally revealed results complementary to these statistical results.

Keywords

• Virtual Environments
• Communication
• Adults
• Distance Education
• Educational Technology
• eLearning
• Instructional Design
• Instructional Materials

Also Read

• Strategies for teacher professional development on TPACK, Part 2
• Supporting E-Learning with Technologies for Electronic Documents
• Developing Teacher’s TPCK for Teaching Mathematics With Spreadsheets
• Instructors and Students Competences, Perceptions and Access to E-learning Technologies: Implications for E-learning Implementation at the Open University of Tanzania
• Technology, Transfer and Teaching: The Impact of a Single Technology Course on Preservice Teachers’ Computer Attitudes and Ability
• An Investigation of Behaviorist and Cognitive Approaches to Instructional Multimedia Design
• Research Highlights in Technology and Teacher Education 2009
• Usage Analysis in Learning Systems
• Belonging Online: Students' Perceptions of the Value and Efficacy of an Online Learning Community
• Online Learning and Quality Assurance

Tags