Directions state: Write a 1, 050- to 1, 750-word paper with an introduction discussing your chosen
Research Design, Measurement and Analysis, generally. Follow by indenting and expanding on the
outline you submitted in Week 1. Outline attached.

Quantitative Mock Study – Retention in Online Distance Education

General Topic
1. Most post-secondary institutions in the United States offer some type of online learning. Many institutions have fully online programs, while others offer online learning in a hybrid or blended format.
Specific Topic
1. Online learning has shown strong enrollments with adult learners. A good amount of research has been done comparing the completion rates of online learning versus traditional face-to-face learning and the costs associated with these two different modalities.

General Problem
1. Completion of a college degree has been found to be a key factor in creating a quality workforce.Online distance learning has become an important option for institutions enrolling adult learners with busy schedules and family obligations. However, college attrition has been lower for online courses than those offered in the traditional face-to-face setting.

Specific Problem
1. The issue of retaining students in fully online distance learning is a problem with some studies showing dropout rates as high as 30%. After a review of the present research, the focus is on the students’ reasons for dropping out and improving the attrition in distance education.
Purpose of the Study
1. The purpose of this study is to discover if there is a difference in retention in distance learning versus traditional learning among four-year
Research Questions
1. What is the difference in completion rates at four-year universities between online programs and face-to-face programs in the United States?
2. What is the difference in the completion rates atfour-year universities between undergraduate and graduates studentsin online programs in the United States?

Quantitative design
1. This quantitative study is Quasi-Experimental (nonexperimental), natural manipulation design.
Variables that will be measured
1. Independent variables (IV): Delivery method, Student Classification, and region (location).
  1. Variable 1: Delivery method is discrete [nominal) (online or face-to-face)
  2. Variable 2: Student classification is discrete [nominal] (undergraduate or graduate)

Variable 3: Region/location is discrete [nominal]l (Northern United States or Southern United States)

Dependent variables (DV): Course Enrollment and Course Completion numbers.
1. Dependent variable 1: Course enrollment is discrete [nominal].
2. Dependent variable 2: Course completion is continuous [ratio] (percentage of students).
The inferential statistical technique that will best serve to examine the variables in this quasi-experimental design is ANOVA.
Hypotheses1: There is a significant difference in completion rates at four-year universities between online programs and face-to-face programs in the United States

Null Hypotheses1: There is no significant difference in completion rates at four-year universities between online programs and face-to-face programs in the United States.