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Dissertation Defense


Candidate: Amy J. Wojciechowski

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Teaching, Learning and Leadership

Title: The Relationship Between Student Characteristics and Success in an Online Business Course at West Shore Community College

Date: Friday, September 10, 2004 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
2008 Grand Rapids Beltline Campus

Committee: Dr. Carl Woloszyk, Chair
Dr. Louann Bierlin-Palmer
Dr. Katherine Manley

Abstract: This ex-post facto study was conducted to identify characteristics of successful online students with respect to: (a) gender; (b) age; (c) previous courses completed online; (d) ACT English, Reading, and Composite test score; (e) ASSET Reading and Writing test score; (f) grade point average of student upon completion of the course; (g) withdrawal from previous courses; (h) semester format (16 week vs. eight week); (i) student status (full time vs. part time); (j) attendance at orientation that will predict success. A small, rural community college in western Michigan participated in the study. The subjects included 179 students in an online Introduction To Business course beginning with the fall semester 2000 through the summer semester 2003. Data was obtained from the college data files. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that significant but weak correlations were found between grade in the online course and previous withdrawals, previous online courses, age, and ACT English test score. A significant, and the strongest association, was identified with grade point average. A significant and moderate association was identified with orientation attendance and ASSET Reading test score. Results of the study indicated that selected characteristics are associated with success in an online course. Two characteristics may be used as a prediction of success in an online business course as indicated by the regression analysis. The two characteristics that are associated with the final grade in the course include orientation attendance and grade point average. These two characteristics may be used to predict course grade for students that are interested in taking a course in an online format.



 

 



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