Influential factors on faculty performance in distance education


Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Bilgisayar ve Öğretim Teknolojileri Eğitimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: MEHMET KARA

Danışman: ZAHİDE YILDIRIM

Özet:

This study aimed to identify the performance deficiencies of the faculty in distance education and to design interventions for performance improvement with a systemic perspective. Based on this aim, the study was conducted within the framework of Externality-Tangibility model for performance improvement and Transactional Distance theory. Concurrent embedded mixed methods research design, in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from distance education administrators, faculty, students, and support staff in two public universities in addition to the experts from eight public universities, was used. The data sources included student survey, semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders, observation notes, and available documents regarding the research problem. Quantitative data were collected from the distance education students in two public universities through the cross-sectional survey. Qualitative data were collected from all stakeholders in addition to observation notes and documents. Qualitative data were analyzed through constant comparative analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The results firstly showed that the optimal behaviors are based on student-centered approach as consistent with the existing literature. The qualitative and quantitative data analysis results congruently indicated the deficiencies in most of the identified optimal behaviors. Qualitative results further revealed the main and secondary causes of the deficiencies and the interventions for them. The overall results provided a holistic view of the causes of the performance gaps within the distance education system in Turkey and offered interventions for performance improvement. The study finally provided practitioners and researchers with guiding implications for future practices and studies.