Trends in Distance Education Research

Abstract

The ability to conduct good research in distance education is known to be

influenced by two important factors , namely: knowledge of the theoretical

foundations of the field, and knowledge of the old and the new trends in the

research conducted in the field. Therefore , this paper will focus on providing

the reader with a suitable background on these two factors.

Concerning the first factor the paper will show that theory in distance

education has witnessed a major shift during the past three decades from

the industrial theory to the transactional theory . The aim of the first theory

or model was to overcome the difficulties created by the physical separation

between the teacher and the learner . The aim of the second theory was to

overcome the effects of the psychological and interactive difficulties which

separate the teacher and the learner . This shift was made possible mainly

due to the great advances in communication technologies.

Concerning the second factor the paper will show that distance education

has passed through significant developments in research topics and

methodologies . Emphasis on comparative studies between the effects of

distance education and traditional education through quasi-experimental

studies gave way to focus on how students learn in distance education . This

shift in the focus of research required the implementation of new techniques

for data collection and analysis.

The paper concludes with a discussion of the future strategies of research

in distance education , and lists some recommendations for Al-Quds Open

University researchers .