Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs
Although online courses at postsecondary institutions promise adults access, flexibility, and convenience, many barriers to online learning remain. This article presents findings from a qualitative case study, which explored the phenomenon of undergraduate and graduate women learners’ persistence in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Athabasca University Press
2008-06-01
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| Series: | International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/455/1042 |
| _version_ | 1818892249868533760 |
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| author | Terry Müller |
| author_facet | Terry Müller |
| author_sort | Terry Müller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although online courses at postsecondary institutions promise adults access, flexibility, and convenience, many barriers to online learning remain. This article presents findings from a qualitative case study, which explored the phenomenon of undergraduate and graduate women learners’ persistence in online degree-completion programs at a college in the Northeast of the United States. Research questions asked why women learners persisted or failed to persist, and how factors supporting or hindering persistence influenced learners. Interviews with a purposeful sample of 20 participants revealed the complexity of variables affecting learners’ persistence to graduation. Findings suggested that multiple responsibilities, insufficient interaction with faculty, technology, and coursework ranked highest as barriers to women’s persistence. Strong motivation to complete degrees, engagement in the learning community, and appreciation for the convenience of an online degree-completion option facilitated persistence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:53:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d66da16833e64ac0a425134f851b992c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1492-3831 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:53:42Z |
| publishDate | 2008-06-01 |
| publisher | Athabasca University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning |
| spelling | doaj.art-d66da16833e64ac0a425134f851b992c2022-12-21T20:11:51ZengAthabasca University PressInternational Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning1492-38312008-06-0192Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion ProgramsTerry MüllerAlthough online courses at postsecondary institutions promise adults access, flexibility, and convenience, many barriers to online learning remain. This article presents findings from a qualitative case study, which explored the phenomenon of undergraduate and graduate women learners’ persistence in online degree-completion programs at a college in the Northeast of the United States. Research questions asked why women learners persisted or failed to persist, and how factors supporting or hindering persistence influenced learners. Interviews with a purposeful sample of 20 participants revealed the complexity of variables affecting learners’ persistence to graduation. Findings suggested that multiple responsibilities, insufficient interaction with faculty, technology, and coursework ranked highest as barriers to women’s persistence. Strong motivation to complete degrees, engagement in the learning community, and appreciation for the convenience of an online degree-completion option facilitated persistence.http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/455/1042online learningadult learnerswomen learnerspostsecondarypersistencebarriers to persistenceretention |
| spellingShingle | Terry Müller Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning online learning adult learners women learners postsecondary persistence barriers to persistence retention |
| title | Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs |
| title_full | Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs |
| title_fullStr | Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs |
| title_short | Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs |
| title_sort | persistence of women in online degree completion programs |
| topic | online learning adult learners women learners postsecondary persistence barriers to persistence retention |
| url | http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/455/1042 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT terrymuller persistenceofwomeninonlinedegreecompletionprograms |