aera 2014 - prevalence of convenient sampling: an investigation into sampling trends

Prevalence of Convenient

Sampling

An investigation into sampling trends in online learning research

Patrick R. Lowenthal & Ross Perkins Boise State University

Online Growth

5+million post-secondarystudents

Source: Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010

Poor QualityResearch

Studies “suffered from weaknesses such as small sample sizes; failure to report retention rates for students in the conditions being contrasted; and, in many cases, potential bias stemming from the authors’ dual roles as experimenters and instructors” (Means et al., 2009, p. xviii)

Online learning research is “severely wanting in terms of depth of reporting” (Bernard, 2004, p. 407)

Bias

Context matters: A description and typology of the online learning landscape.

www.patricklowenthal.com/publications/AECT2009TypologyOnlineLearning.pdf

Balance

What are the sampling trends of online learning research??

[ ]

What are the sampling trends of online learning research focused on social presence?

“social presence”

& “online

learning”

Ebsco--Academic Search Premier, Applied Science & Tech full text (H.W. Wilson), Communication & Mass Media Complete, Education Research Complete, ERIC, PsycINFO

KeyWords

“social presence”

& “online

learning”

102

studies

Results [Type of Publication]

4%

23%

73%

JournalDissertationJournal

Conference

Results [Popular Outlets]

Journal of Interactive Online Learning• 8 articlesInternet and Higher Education• 8 articles

International Review of Research in Open & Distance Learning• 4 articles

Journal of Asynchronous Learning• 4 articlesComputers & Education• 4 articles

Results [Methodology]

16% Mixed method

s

Results [Subject]

79%

8%

6%

6%

EducationBuisnessNursingPsychology

Results [Format]

18%

15%

1%

65%

BlendedBothF2FOnline

Results [Level]

High School 4Undergraduate 25Graduate 35

6%

39%55%

High SchoolUndergraduateGraduate

Results [Sample Size]

• 13%: 10 or less students• 24 %: 20 or less students• 34%: 50 or more students• 25%: 100 or more students

• Mean: 101• Mode: 6• Median: 43• Range: 2 to 709

More time reporting on sampling rationale

Study under-represented groups & subjects

Replicate studies in different contexts

Share & publish more dissertation research

More time reporting on sampling rationale

Study under-represented groups & subjects

Replicate studies in different contexts

Share & publish more dissertation research

More time reporting on sampling rationale

Study under-represented groups & subjects

Replicate studies in different contexts

Share & publish more dissertation research

More time reporting on sampling rationale

Study under-represented groups & subjects

Replicate studies in different contexts

Share & publish more dissertation research

patricklowenthal@boisestate.eduslides @ patricklowenthal.com