Performance and Satisfaction of Resident and Distance Students in Videoconference Courses

Abstract

Distance learning is common in higher education, especially online course and degree offerings. However, an older form of distance education, videoconferencing, continues to be used as a method of course delivery. Although some studies have considered the effectiveness of such courses, their findings are mixed and some were conducted with older forms of technology. The present study compares student performance and course and instructor satisfaction between resident and distance students across videoconference undergraduate criminal justice courses. The analyses indicate that students receiving the course through videoconference had lower final grades and were less satisfied with the course and the instructor than those students simultaneously receiving the course through resident instruction, even after controlling for instructor and campus effects.