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The Relationship Between Learners

Motivation and Completion in Massive
Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Farraj Alshehri

Northern Illinois University

Summer, 2016

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outline:
Purpose and research questions
Survey
Variables
Descriptions of Items
Sample
Pilot data
Analysis plan

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 To assess the relationship between the learners motivation
and completion of MOOCs in Saudi Arabia

RQ1: What is the extent of the relationship between learners attention and completion of MOOCs?

RQ2: What is the extent of the relationship between learners relevance and completion of MOOCs?

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https
://niu.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4SF3p0ldIP6
3uaF

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 TheVariables

My Studys Variables:

Primary variables Auxiliary variables

Learners attention Age

Learners relevance
Gender

Educational Level, Educational background,

Completion Marital status, and the three features make
learners complete MOOCs.
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The Primary Variables

Primary variable Associated survey items

5-item Likert scale (see subsequent slide)

Learners attention (Independent)

Learners relevance (Independent)

5-item Likert scale (see subsequent slide)

Single item: Based on the most current

massive open online course (MOOCs) you
Completion (Dependent)
have taken, did you complete it? (Yes/No)

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The Auxiliary Variables
Auxiliary variable Associated survey items

Single item: What is your gender? (2 options:

Gender male, female).

Single item: What is your current age? (drop-

Age down menu: under 20, 21-25, 26-30, 31- 35, 36-
40, older than 40).
Single item: What is your marital status? (drop-
down menu: Single, married, widowed, divorced,
Marital status
separated, other).

Single item: What is your current educational

Educational Level level? (3 options: bachelor, master, doctorate).

Single item: What is your educational

Educational background background? (drop-down menu: Art, business,
Education, Law, Education,,other).

Single item: If you assume that you are going to

the three features make learners complete MOOCs take a MOOC, what the three reasons that make
you complete the MOOCs? (open-response item)
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 Learners Attention Scale

Item responses
coded 1 = SD to 5
= SA

Composite score
computed as the
Reverse-coded
sum of the item
scores

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Learners Relevance Scale

Item responses
coded 1 = SD to 5
= SA

Composite score
computed as the
sum of the item
scores

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MOOCs completion item

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ample page illustrating survey layout

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 Sample

MOOCs learners from King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia.

Convenience sampling was used

Students were currently enrolled in a survey
research methods course
N = 31 students responded
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 Demographic characteristics of
sample

Have you ever taken a massive open online

course (MOOC)?

Answer % Count
Yes 80.00% 24
No 20.00% 6
Total 100% 30

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 Gender Age
Distribution distribution

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marital status distribution

Divorced(1)
4%
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educational background educational level
distribution distribution

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Reverse-code responses for Negatively-worded item

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liability information for learners attention scale
Each item correlates strongly
with total composite score,
indicating good items. We do
not have negative but one low
correlation .
liability of scores is good (above .70 criterion)
Cronbachs alpha
becomes lower if any
item is removed from
the scale except one
item; thus four items
are good items!
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liability information for learners attention scale

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 Cronbachs alpha
liability information for learners relevance scale becomes lower if any
Each item correlates strongly with total item is removed from
composite score, indicating good items. We the scale except one
do not have negative but one low correlation item; thus four items
. are good items!

eliability of scores is good (above .70 criterion)

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liability information for learners relevance scale

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MOOCs Completion

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Results of the open-
response item

If you assume that you are going to take a MOOC, what the three
reasons that make you complete the MOOCs? (open-response item)

Percent of
Responses respondents
New knowledge and skills 45%
Appropriate time 23%
Interesting 23%
Accreditation 16%
Investment 10%
Helpful tools 10%
Providers information 6%
requirement 3%
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Results of the open-
response item

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 Analysis plan

RQ1: What is the extent of the relationship between learners attention and completion of MOOCs?
Analysis: logistic regression to assess the relationship between learners
attention and completion of MOOCs.

RQ2: What is the extent of the relationship between learners relevance and completion of
MOOCs?
Analysis: logistic regression to assess the relationship between learners
relevance and completion of MOOCs.

Note: G*power will help to know the acceptable size sample for the study. 27
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