ERIC Number: ED591292
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 203
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-4386-7128-7
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Online Doctoral Student Satisfaction as Influenced by Personality and Transactional Distance
Vaughn, Shelby Duncan
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, The University of West Florida
Online learning remains a convenient educational delivery route for students; however, universities continue to report high attrition rates, specifically in Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs. High attrition rates leave universities and students with financial and emotional consequences. In previous studies, researchers identified student satisfaction as a contributor to attrition. Within student satisfaction studies, researchers discovered that interaction and personality traits could predict satisfaction. To examine these relationships, the researcher framed the quantitative, correlational research study using the theory of transactional distance. During the theory's 1993 introduction, Moore placed specific focus on the constructs of autonomy, dialogue, and structure. Theoretical revisions placed a greater emphasis on the dialogic interaction sub-constructs that consisted of student-content, student-interface, student-instructor, and student-student interactions. Through robust regression analyses, data obtained from 169 online Ed.D. students enrolled at 11 Southeastern U.S. public universities revealed positive, statistically significant relationships (R[superscript 2] = 0.77, F(11, 157) = 46.81, p < 0.05) among the predictor and outcome variables. Additionally, honesty-humility and openness to experience positively mediated dialogic interaction and program satisfaction relationships. The study's results add to the limited amount of literature on online Ed.D. student program satisfaction. Additionally, study results can provide all Ed.D. program stakeholders with strategies for assessment, for the identification of online program areas in need of improvements, and for implementation of appropriate interactive teaching aids and educational activities necessary for improving student program satisfaction and retention rates. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Student Satisfaction, Doctoral Programs, Online Courses, Personality Traits, Education Courses, Student Attrition, Educational Theories, Public Colleges
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A