Title: Success in Distance Education Courses Versus Traditional Classroom Educatio Courses Abstract approved:

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if there were possible areas of student individuality and uniqueness that might contribute to successful completion of distance education courses as compared to successful completion of traditional classroom courses. Five areas of possible differences were identified and studied: 1) differences between the number of successful completers, 2) differences in individual student learning styles, 3) differences in individual student self-directed learning readiness, 4) differences in individual student motivation, and 5) differences in individual student personal profiles. The data collected in this research project came from 132 students enrolled in Psychology 111, a distance education course and traditional classroom course at University of Alaska Anchorage. Three survey instruments were used to collect the data as follows: Kolb's Learning