Predictors of University Students' Attitudes Towards Online Learning: A Mixed-Methods Study on Behavioural and Perceptual Variables During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, university students have been included in the move to distance education. One of the effective variables in this process is their attitude towards online learning. This study aims to find out the predictors of this attitude by the behaviour and perception variables and the learner experiences during the pandemic. This mixed-method study involved 506 university student participants. Regression and content analysis were used in the analysis of the data. In the results of the study, online learning attitude showed the highest relationship with the sense of online learning community. Behaviour and perception variables including reflective thinking, perceived socialness, knowledge sharing behaviour and the sense of community explain the attitude towards online learning at high levels. In the qualitative part of the study, aspects of distance education the students liked or disliked during the COVID-19 global outbreak process, their thoughts on synchronous/asynchronous class videos, and the contribution of the process to their learning experiences are presented. The results of the research are discussed with specific reference to the pandemic period.

Keywords

• online learning attitudes
• reflective thinking levels
• knowledge sharing behaviors
• the sense of community

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