Design of the Study
The study falls into a descriptive research design because its main aim is to examine the influence of the transition to online education on student achievement. It may be further reduced to the correlational type, as it helps establish a cause-effect relationship between different variables. The research does not have an experimental part because it observes already naturally formed groups of students and teachers on the specified platform without manipulating them in any way. The examined variables involve the number or regularity of online classes and their influence on students’ satisfaction and accomplishment. The study may combine quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods, providing surveys with closed-ended questions and interviews with open-ended questions, respectively. The mixed approach allows both to test the hypothesis and provide its interpretation and possible suggestions.
Instrumentation – Dependent Measure(s)
The quantitative analysis of the research is based on the questionnaire. The first part includes students’ and teachers’ profiles (age, gender, years of study/service) necessary for background information. The second part focuses on performance and satisfaction levels, requiring examinees to provide answers in correlation with their traditional educational experience. The number and quality of online classes present an independent variable influencing the dependent variable of students’ achievement. The qualitative information may be gained with the help of a non-directive interview. As the study is mainly focused on the objective results acquired with the survey, the interview questions may provide subjective information concerning the examinees’ perception of online education. It allows examining the variables of feelings and concerns of the matter.
Statistical Procedures
The main objective of the survey and interview is to determine whether students have improved feelings of achievement and satisfaction after the transition to online education. It is a cross-sectional study examining the defined groups at one given point in time. Sample selection for the survey should include only students, while the interview may target teachers as well. As the study is conducted within a particular organization, the number of examinees for the survey may not exceed a few hundred. Pearson’s correlation coefficient may be used to determine the statistical relationship between variables. According to Shober et al. (2018), it is “a dimensionless measure of the covariance, which is scaled such that it ranges from –1 to +1” (p. 1763). This formula is used to determine whether the correlation is strong between variables. The positive or negative impact of this relationship may be later assessed with the help of interviews.
Definition of Terms
“Online/electronic learning” is a general term encompassing different types of courses and instructions which are provided on digital platforms like computers or phones, allowing to create an online communication (Online, n.d.). “Distance education” refers to synchronous and asynchronous classes occurring outside the campus or school and does not necessarily involve online contacts (Distance education, n.d.). “Multimedia” is the combination of different ways of presenting material like text, video, sound, etc. (Multimedia, n.d.). “Synchronous learning” refers to the simultaneous participation of students and teachers in a course simulating a classroom (Synchronous, n.d.). “Asynchronous learning” does not involve real-time interaction, allowing students to access materials based on their schedule (Asynchronous, n.d.).
Proposal Summary
The study focuses on discovering the correlation between the transition from traditional to online education. It hypothesizes that e-learning may improve students’ feelings of satisfaction and achievement. The proposed research demonstrates the possible direction of education development, allowing to conduct future studies on its basis. The paper utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods of surveys and interviews for the analysis. The main examinees include students and teachers of the specified platform who share their experiences. The results may be analyzed with special formulas to show the correlation between transition and accomplishment. The broader impact of the research may include the promotion of online education in remote and inaccessible territories.
References
Asynchronous vs. Synchronous: Time to learn the difference. (n.d.) In Dictionary.com. Web.
Distance learning. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster.com. Web.
Multimedia. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster.com. Web.
Online. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster.com. Web.
Schober, P., Boer, C., & Schwarte, L. A. (2018). Correlation coefficients.Anesthesia & Analgesia, 126(5), 1763–1768. Web.