Effects of Computer-Mediated Communication

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to answer the question: Is the level of achievement of working adult students in an online class directly related to the method of compute-mediated communication used by faculty? The study examined the relationship between the methods of computer-mediated communication utilized, the independent variable; and student outcomes, the dependent variable, among working adult students in online courses. Through an examination of course communication records and student final exam grades, the researcher developed course-based measures of the methods of computer-mediated communication and student outcomes. These measures were used to conduct statistically appropriate tests to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the student final exam scores between classes that used only basic methods of computer-mediated communication as opposed to courses that employed both basic and advanced methods.