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Prevalence of Convenient
Sampling
An investigation into sampling trends in online learning research
Patrick R. Lowenthal & Ross Perkins Boise State University
Online Growth
5+million post-secondarystudents
Source: Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010
Poor QualityResearch
Studies “suffered from weaknesses such as small sample sizes; failure to report retention rates for students in the conditions being contrasted; and, in many cases, potential bias stemming from the authors’ dual roles as experimenters and instructors” (Means et al., 2009, p. xviii)
Online learning research is “severely wanting in terms of depth of reporting” (Bernard, 2004, p. 407)
Bias
Context matters: A description and typology of the online learning landscape.
www.patricklowenthal.com/publications/AECT2009TypologyOnlineLearning.pdf
Balance
What are the sampling trends of online learning research??
[ ]
What are the sampling trends of online learning research focused on social presence?
“social presence”
& “online
learning”
Ebsco--Academic Search Premier, Applied Science & Tech full text (H.W. Wilson), Communication & Mass Media Complete, Education Research Complete, ERIC, PsycINFO
KeyWords
“social presence”
& “online
learning”
102
studies
Results [Type of Publication]
4%
23%
73%
JournalDissertationJournal
Article
Results [Popular Outlets]
Journal of Interactive Online Learning• 8 articlesInternet and Higher Education• 8 articles
International Review of Research in Open & Distance Learning• 4 articles
Journal of Asynchronous Learning• 4 articlesComputers & Education• 4 articles
Results [Methodology]
16% Mixed method
s
Results [Subject]
79%
8%
6%
6%
EducationBuisnessNursingPsychology
Results [Format]
18%
15%
1%
65%
BlendedBothF2FOnline
Results [Level]
High School 4Undergraduate 25Graduate 35
6%
39%55%
High SchoolUndergraduateGraduate
Results [Sample Size]
• 13%: 10 or less students• 24 %: 20 or less students• 34%: 50 or more students• 25%: 100 or more students
• Mean: 101• Mode: 6• Median: 43• Range: 2 to 709
More time reporting on sampling rationale
Study under-represented groups & subjects
Replicate studies in different contexts
Share & publish more dissertation research
More time reporting on sampling rationale
Study under-represented groups & subjects
Replicate studies in different contexts
Share & publish more dissertation research
More time reporting on sampling rationale
Study under-represented groups & subjects
Replicate studies in different contexts
Share & publish more dissertation research
More time reporting on sampling rationale
Study under-represented groups & subjects
Replicate studies in different contexts
Share & publish more dissertation research
[email protected] @ patricklowenthal.com
