On-campus and Distance Learning of Educational Statistical Research Course: A Comparative Analysis of Postgraduates’ Academic Performance*
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in academic performance of students in on-campus and distance learning postgraduate programs at a public research university in Malaysia. The study depended on data from 121 postgraduates drawn from 21 specializations of the Master of Education. The postgraduates were enrolled in an Advanced Research Methodology course involving statistical analysis in the educational field. The study employed a survey for data collection and independent t test for data analysis. The study’s findings reported no significant differences in terms of the academic performance between on-campus students and distance students in educational statistical analysis. However, the two groups of students differed significantly in terms of their age composition as distance learning students comprised the majority of mature working students (25 years or older) relative to their counterparts in the on-campus program. Further, the study showed that on-campus and distance students were indistinguishable from each other, in terms of their grade point average scores and passing rates. Hence, the findings of the study can potentially be applied to higher education institutions that are considering offering distance learning as a studying mode in determining whether distance learning can be as effective as on-campus learning.
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