Park, J., & Choi, H.J. (2009). Factors influencing adult learners' decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12(4), 207-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1287038599?accountid=28844
To understand the relationship between dropout rates and adult online learning.
Participants
147 learners who had dropped out or finished online courses in a Midwestern University
This study used both qualitative and quantitative measures to explain its argument.
Dropouts and the persistent learners of online courses demonstrated differences in their individual characteristics and internal factors while participating in the course.
Procedure
Data was collected by a survey questionnaire of 147 students of online courses. The answers to the questions were then transformed using statistical and qualitative tools. The researcher sent an email to the 234 participants registered to introduce the purpose of this study and to solicit their participation. After sending the message three times, 161 learners showed interest in participating in this study. The researchers then sent an online survey to them. Finally 149 submitted responses, but only the data from
147 could be used for this study because two persons did not answer most of the questions.
Statistical Test
The researchers used descriptive statistics (mean mode, etc.), chi square, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).
Results
Individual characteristics were developed from the survey answers. Data is then divided into various groups where age, sex and characteristics are all compared. Certain characteristics are statistically proven to relate to certain groups of learners making the study somewhat useful.
Conclusions
The study demonstrated that online dropouts had significant difference in perceptions of learner satisfaction and relevance from persistent learners." In other words, learners are less likely to drop out when they are satisfied with the courses, and when the courses are relevant to their own lives."
Critique
This study is probably too narrow in scope to make any definite relationships between learning characteristics and dropouts.
References
Park, J., & Choi, H.J. (2009). Factors influencing adult learners' decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12(4), 207-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1287038599?accountid=28844
The digestive fluids that are secreted by the stomach glands aimed at breaking down solid food and to kill bacteria in the stomach are referred to as gastric juices. Gastric acid is produced by the gastric parietal cell located on the walls of the stomach. The region where the gastric juices are secreted into the lumen is the most acidic environment in the human body and is known as the