Adult Learners’ Responses to Online Learning: A Qualitative Analysis Grounded in Self-determination Theory
Nailya R. Salikhova 1 * , Martin F. Lynch 1 2 3, Albina B. Salikhova 4
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1 Institute of Psychology and Education, Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, 420008, Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, RUSSIA2 Warner School of Education and Human Development, University of Rochester, Rochester, 305 Schlgel Hall, New York, USA3 International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000, Myasnitskaya 20, Moscow, RUSSIA4 Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435, Bol’shaya Pirogovskaya 2, Moscow, RUSSIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

At a time when educators in many countries are adopting digital technology in their classrooms, whether by choice or mandate, the question of what the experience of online learning is like for students remains open and of vital interest. In the present study, adult learners (N = 37) in Russia were asked to write an essay about their experience of an online course they had taken as part of their graduate studies. Responses were examined by means of thematic analysis. From the conceptual framework of self-determination theory, responses were categorized with respect to psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Adult learners reported their online courses provided the greatest opportunities to satisfy the need for autonomy, with ample support for competence as well; however, they struggled in their online courses to find satisfaction for the relatedness need. The present study identified those elements of online courses that correspond with and facilitate the satisfaction of each of the three basic psychological needs.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 17, Issue 10, October 2021, Article No: em2011

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/11176

Publication date: 24 Aug 2021

Article Views: 3547

Article Downloads: 1776

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