There is one example of a study that compared the two approaches, but there has been very little research done in this area.
Five studies are presented regarding what technology to use. Experience has shown that the "best" technology varies from student to student and that a mix of media is best. A useful line of research is into how different media reinforce each other. Many studies exist over thirty years that students can build on for proposing new research.
Six questions are listed regarding how to be an effective distance teacher, and eight examples of studies of teaching strategies in distance eduction delivered online.
Cost Effectiveness
Primary questions involve strategies to produce the best results at the lowest cost.
Table 10.1 summarizes the variables that determine the effectiveness of distance education which require further research. (Moore and Kearsley)
As part of cost effectiveness studies, calculating the savings due to lower travel or hiring fewer teachers has never worked because of the political sensitivity of addressing hiring practices, and travel expenses are passed on to students anyway. (Moore and Kearsley) Three examples of cost-effectiveness studies are presented.
These front fixed costs are higher than those of the conventional university. Two studies are listed that examine, for the most part, the costs of faculty time.
Caution must be taken when reviewing cost-effectiveness studies. It is hard to find truly comparable data because some evaluators ignore certain costs. For example, overlooking some capital costs such as who paid for the faculty parking lot, or shared costs such as equipment, telephone, and internet access.
Research on policy and how policies are arrived at for distance education is the most underdeveloped of all research. Eleven examples of policy research are presented.
Conclusion
More research, and in particular theory-based research (previously defined as "the sum of what is known") is needed to explore beyond the short-term. (Moore and Kearsley)
Bibliography
Moore, M.G. And G. Kearsley. "Distance Education: A System View (2nd ed.)." Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth, 2005. 236-255.
