Thematic Review of Studies on Distance Education Conducted Between 2020 and 2023

Year 2024, , 280 - 317, 15.07.2024

Betül Özaydın Özkara

https://doi.org/10.29250/sead.1434121

Abstract

This study aims to examine the articles published in the journals "Distance Education", "American Journal of Distance Education", and "The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning" between March 2020 and March 2023 within the field of distance education. Thus, an analysis of the primary topics and methodological trends in distance education during the intense period of the pandemic has been conducted. Thematic analyses previously conducted in this field were reviewed to create a data collection form, which was then used to evaluate 285 studies. The study revealed that the majority of articles were authored by two or three individuals, focusing predominantly on micro-level topics, with instructional design being the most studied area. Quantitative methods were predominantly favored as the primary research approach, and studies involving undergraduate students were the most prevalent. In terms of data collection methods, studies using existing scales/surveys alongside system records, grades, or other developed instruments ranked the highest. Descriptive and inferential analyses were identified as the most frequently used data analysis methods. The majority of articles examined had between 41 and 60 references. The study highlighted a concentration of research at the higher education level, suggesting the need for increased research at other educational levels.

Keywords

Thematic analysis, Distance education, Pandemic, Online learning, Trend

2020-2023 Yılında Uzaktan Eğitim ile İlgili Yapılan Çalışmalara Yönelik Tematik İnceleme

Abstract

Bu çalışmada uzaktan eğitim alanındaki dergiler arasında bulunan “Distance Education”, “American Journal of Distance Education” ve “The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning” dergilerinde 2020 Mart-2023 Mart aralığında yayımlanmış olan çalışmaların incelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Böylece pandeminin yoğun olduğu süreçte uzaktan eğitim alanında çalışılan öncelikli konuların ve yöntemsel durumun analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Daha önce bu alanda yapılan tematik analizler incelenerek araştırmacı tarafından veri toplama formu oluşturulmuş ve 285 çalışma bu form kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonunda makale yazar sayısının daha çok 2 ve 3 olduğu, makale konusunun mikro düzeyde yoğunlaştığı, en fazla öğretim tasarımı konusunda çalışmanın bulunduğu görülmüştür. Yöntem olarak ilk sırada nicel yöntemin tercih edildiği ve lisans öğrencileri ile yapılan çalışmaların ilk sırada olduğu görülmüştür. Veri toplama aracı olarak mevcut ölçeğin/anketin yanı sıra sistem kaydı, başarı notu ya da çalışmada geliştirilen bir başka ölçeğinde kullanıldığı çalışmalar ilk sırada yer almıştır. Veri analiz yöntemi olarak betimsel ve kestirimsel analizlerin daha fazla olduğu belirlenmiştir. Referans sayısının 41-60 arasında daha fazla olduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmada incelenen makalelerin yükseköğretim düzeyinde yoğunlaştığı belirlenmiş ve bu nedenle diğer düzeylerdeki çalışma sayısının arttırılabileceği önerilmiştir.

Keywords

Tematik inceleme, Uzaktan eğitim, Pandemi, Online öğrenme, Eğilim

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