Uncovering the pathways to e-learning success: A qualitative approach

Abstract

This paper reports a qualitative study on the effectiveness of an e-learning framework (IPTEACES) for Insurance Broker Training Program Certifications, using a sample of 3,726 trainees from 16 different corporations from insurance and banking industries in Portugal. We’ve applied fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) technique, which offers improved results when compared to the use of quantitative traditional statistical methods (e.g. regressions, structural equations modeling) that only provide an estimated solution to the dependent variable at stake. Findings suggest higher training success levels are achieved by: older, more educated women trainees attending banking training events covering a large breadth (double course). Concerning lower training success results, evidence shows that those are achieved by: less educated male trainees, attending insurance training events covering a single course. These study results are consistent with previous reported work that followed a quantitative approach.