Sociodemographics and Psychosocial Experience of Distance Learners in Nigeria: A Comparison of Single-Mode and Dual-Mode Universities

Autor/inn/en	Adebisi, Tajudeen; Olatunji, Taiwo
Titel	Sociodemographics and Psychosocial Experience of Distance Learners in Nigeria: A Comparison of Single-Mode and Dual-Mode Universities
Quelle	In: Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 26 (2022) 1, S.63-83 (21 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1179-7665
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Distance Education; Student Characteristics; Social Characteristics; Psychological Patterns; College Students; Blended Learning; In Person Learning; Student Experience; Predictor Variables; Nigeria + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Gesellschaftsbild; Collegestudent; Studienerfahrung; Prädiktor
Abstract	The study explored the psychosocial experience of distance learners at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife. Psychosocial experience refers to the aggregate outcome of events and feelings that define or affect a person's knowledge and perception of their prevailing social environment. The study adopted mixed-methods phenomenology research design. We deployed multiphase mixed-method sampling involving a quota sampling technique to select 182 respondents, and a purposive sampling technique to select eight interviewees selected from the initial respondents--four students from each of NOUN and OAU. Two researcher-designed instruments--a questionnaire and an in-depth interview guide--were deployed for data collection. The collected data were analysed with frequency counts, percentage analysis, and phenomenological analysis. Analysis of their sociodemographic characteristics showed that the profile of the students at the dual-mode university (OAU) reflects characteristics of conventional distance learners more than does the profile of the students at the single-mode university (NOUN). Distance learners at NOUN and OAU had both similar and different psychosocial experience. Their experience was largely positive--only 14% and 12.3% of NOUN and OAU students (respectively) had considered dropping out. Factors affecting learners' experience in both institutions included personal motivation, the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of distance learning, insufficiency of facilitator-led tutorials (at NOUN), and difficulties due to work and family responsibilities (at OAU). The study concluded that Nigerian distance learners possess the requisite psychosocial capacity to negotiate meaning and acquire knowledge in single-mode or dual-mode institutions. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	FLANZ: Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand. PO Box 391, Blenheim 7240, New Zealand. Web site: https://www.jofdl.nz/index.php/JOFDL/index
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01