Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs

dc.creator	Terry Müller
dc.date	2008-06-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:13:20Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:13:20Z
dc.identifier	1492-3831
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/d66da16833e64ac0a425134f851b992c
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/15948
dc.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.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Athabasca University
dc.relation	http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/455/1042
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1492-3831
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 9, Iss 2 (2008)
dc.subject	online learning
dc.subject	adult learners
dc.subject	women learners
dc.subject	postsecondary
dc.subject	persistence
dc.subject	barriers to persistence
dc.subject	retention
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Persistence of Women in Online Degree-Completion Programs
dc.type	article