Differential Characteristics of Students in On-Line vs. Traditional Courses

Abstract

On-line offerings of courses have increased exponentially. Efforts to meet the needs of diverse, non-traditional students have created a market for instruction that can be delivered in flexible formats. While the movement to increase the use of on-line instruction is rapidly moving forward, there is a lack of empirical data to identify the effects of this technology. The purpose of this study is to identify personality, attitude, and demographic differences between students who take online courses and students who enroll in live, traditional courses.