Technological determinants of student persistence in college distance education courses: Do course delivery modes play a role?

Abstract

This study aims to identify and analyze the technological determinants of persistence in college distance education courses (N=61), derived from the Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. The results of the structural equation analyses (Partial Least Square) revealed that among these determinants, only facilitating conditions have a significant and positive impact on the behavioural intention to use distance learning technologies (R2 = 54%) defined as the student’s intention to display this behaviour. Moreover, behavioral intention to use distance learning technologies has a significant and positive effect on persistence, defined as the intention to finish the distance education course in which the student is enrolled (R2 = 14.2 %) and the intention to enroll in other distance education courses in the future (R2 = 65%). The ANOVA analyses revealed significant differences between the groups of students assigned to different courses delivery modes on all the technological factors, suggesting that differentiated analyses, depending on the course delivery mode, should be performed in the future.