Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Don Busche'
Keywords
applied research methods, distance education, face-to-face instruction, human services, instructional delivery, learning outcomes, literature review, online learning, quiz scores, research methodology, student achievement, student performance, teleconferencing, web-based instruction, Western Washington University
Abstract
The problem of focus in this study related to student learning outcomes in the Human Services Department, Bellingham campus at Western Washington University. The purpose of this study was to compare learning outcomes of students in a web-based applied research methods course to those of students in a face to- face applied research methods course.
The research question was "Do students who take the face-to face applied research methods class have higher quiz scores than students who take the web-based applied research methods class?" Using the research methodology literature focusing on distance education and web-based learning was reviewed.
A total of four procedures were used in this research practicum. These included: (a) conducting a literature review; (b) notifying students of the study; (c) conducting the classes; and (d) analyzing the data.
Unlike many previous studies, results of this study suggest that student learning outcomes are affected by instructional delivery method. A statistically significant difference was found between quiz scores by students who took the course face to- face versus those to too the course web-based (t = 3. 04, df = 43, :r2. = . 05) .
Recommendations include disseminating the results of this study to faculty in the Human Services Department and requiring students to attend two or three teleconference sessions when taking the Applied Research Methods course. Additional research was also recommended.