Online Health Psychology: Do Students Need it, Use it, like it and Want it?

Individual Differences in Online Learning

Online learning is becoming ever more important in higher education today. Whilst there is extensive evidence of the benefits of online learning there is less evidence on the types of students that benefit. This study aimed to explore if any variables could predict success and engagement with an online module. A sample of psychology students completed a series of questionnaires prior to undertaking a specially developed online health psychology module. Questionnaires comprised an: academic confidence scale; a computer self-efficacy scale; and a learning styles questionnaire. Reported differences in student performance on, engagement with, and evaluation of, the module related to these variables were limited. However, a relationship between deep learning and a preference for online learning compared to traditional lectures, and a negative relationship between strategic learning style and module design was reported. Overall it appears as if online learning can be accessed by most and there are no indications of one group of students performing inequitably better or worse than others.

Grades, Student Satisfaction and Retention in Online and Face-to-Face Introductory Psychology Units: A Test of Equivalency Theory

There has been a recent rapid growth in the number of psychology courses offered online through institutions of higher education. The American Psychological Association has highlighted the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of online psychology courses (Halonen et al., 2013). Despite this, there have been inconsistent findings regarding student grades, satisfaction, and retention in online psychology units. Equivalency Theory (Simonson, 1999; Simonson et al., 1999) posits that online and classroom-based learners will attain equivalent learning outcomes when equivalent learning experiences are provided. We present a study of an online introductory psychology unit designed to provide equivalent learning experiences to the pre-existing face-to-face version of the unit. Using quasi-experimental methods, academic performance, student feedback, and retention data from 866 Australian undergraduate psychology students were examined to assess whether the online unit developed to provide equivalent learning experiences produced comparable outcomes to the 'traditional' unit delivered face-to-face. Student grades did not significantly differ between modes of delivery, except for a group-work based assessment where online students performed more poorly. Student satisfaction was generally high in both modes of the unit, with group-work the key source of dissatisfaction in the online unit. The results provide partial support for Equivalency Theory. The group-work based assessment did not provide an equivalent learning experience for students in the online unit highlighting the need for further research to determine effective methods of engaging students in online group activities. Consistent with previous research, retention rates were significantly lower in the online unit, indicating the need to develop effective strategies to increase online retention rates. While this study demonstrates successes in presenting students with an equivalent learning experience, we recommend that future research investigate means of successfully facilitating collaborative group-work assessment, and to explore contributing factors to actual student retention in online units beyond that of non-equivalent learning experiences.