Factors underlying the perceived importance of online student engagement strategies
Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
ISSN: 2050-7003
Article publication date: 17 June 2020
Issue publication date: 4 May 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research study is to validate an instrument that measures the importance instructors and students place on online student engagement strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The online student engagement strategies survey was completed by 160 faculty and 146 students. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and an exploratory factor analysis. The factor structure was examined using a principal component analysis with an oblique rotation.
Findings
Results show that the Online Engagement Strategies Questionnaire has a valid and reliable structure. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, four engagement constructs emerged including peer engagement, multimodal engagement, instructor engagement, and self-directed engagement. Results and discussion assist in identifying key engagement strategies within this online student engagement framework.
Originality/value
The validated instrument fills a gap in the literature, and it has value to practitioners, researchers, administrators and policy makers because it has practical applications.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank members of our expert review panel for their generosity with their valuable time and for their critical and constructive feedback which assisted us in the improvement of the instrument. The reviewers were: [Dr. Lynn Ahlgrim-Delzell and Dr. Chuang Wang (University of North Carolina Charlotte), Dr. Cliff Harbour (University of North Texas), Dr. Craig E. Shepherd (University of Memphis), and Dr. Jeremy Tutty (University of Phoenix)].
Citation
Bolliger, D.U. and Martin, F. (2021), "Factors underlying the perceived importance of online student engagement strategies", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 404-419. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-02-2020-0045
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited