While there has been a lot of debate over the impact of online and remote learning on mental health and well-being, there has been no systematic syntheses or reviews of the research on this particular issue. In this paper, we review the research on the relationship between mental health/well-being and online or remote learning. Our review shows…

In the present article, the authors address another research method that also allows students to address important topics but in a way that does not require collecting separate data and does not require finding research subjects. This approach, called metasynthesis, is similar to meta-analysis in that it involves combining the results of previous…

This research aimed to evaluate of online tutorial program design by applying problem-based learning Research Methods currently implemented in the system of Open Distance Learning (ODL). The students must take a Research Methods course to prepare themselves for academic writing projects. Problem-based learning basically emphasizes the process of…

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the evolution of social presence research in the field of distance education and identified problems in investigating this construct. The researchers took an integrative review on existing social presence studies to answer three questions: (a) How definitions of social presence evolved since…

Schools and school systems throughout the nation are increasingly experimenting with using various instructional technologies to improve productivity and decrease costs, but evidence on both the effectiveness and the costs of education technology is limited. A recent report published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute sets out to describe "the…

Reports on a review of empirical research reports submitted over the past several years to the "American Journal of Distance Education" that identified common analytic problems and errors often overlooked by distance education researchers. Topics discussed include significance testing; assessment issues, including reliability and…

Presents a critical analysis of research explaining dropout in distance education, and suggests the direction of future studies needed to form new theories regarding dropout. Highlights include discussions of mediated communication, audio teleconferencing, and problems with current research methodology and conceptual models. (LRW)

Considers the practice of using research from other fields for application to distance education concerns. Topics discussed include research methods from various social science disciplines; the nature of scientific inquiry; purposes of research; the politics and ethics of research; and research strategies. (24 references) (LRW)

Examines research currently being conducted by some stakeholders in the name of valid distance learning research. Asserts that such research essentially repeats the mistakes of prior media studies that use the long-discredited media comparison approach (which compares distance courses with traditional campus-based courses). (EV)

This paper details the origins of the media comparison study methodology, its current use as an evaluation instrument in distance education, and recommendations for more stringent discrimination between research and evaluation in the field of distance learning. The following topics are discussed: (1) the history of research in instructional…

This article focuses on the linkage between the quantitative and qualitative distance education research methods. The concept that serves as the conceptual link is termed "complementarity." The definition of complementarity emerges through a simulated study of FernUniversitat's mentors. The study shows that in the case of the mentors,…

In leadership education, developing a tolerance for ambiguity is a key element in preparing students for success in the fast-paced and often chaotic business world. In this article, the author presents an approach that draws on Boyer's framework for scholarship, incorporates experiential education principles, and adopts action research…

This summary report describes efforts to bridge developments in the use of technology in delivering higher education services with the traditional roles and responsibilities of state agencies, accrediting bodies, and institutions (Project ALLTEL). Designed to suggest policies and procedures to states and accrediting institutions charged with…

Discusses the effectiveness of computer mediated communication (CMC) in higher education. Highlights include a review of pertinent literature; factors associated with successful CMC resources; activity theory; helping users establish a shared purpose; methodological problems; evaluation methods; a conferencing system; and the patterns and content…

Describes a study which examined relationships between academic persistence and turn-around time, feedback interval, and contacts between student and institution beyond assignment submissions at Allama Iqbal Open University, Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, Open Learning Institute of British Columbia, Tasmanian State Institute of…