https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4972-8591
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Abstract
In this study, we used online photovoice and community-based participatory research to understand and address facilitators and barriers to online distance education for college students in Turkey. Out of 260 students who consented to the study, 240 shared the most important facilitator, 190 shared the most important barriers, and 190 completed our contextual questions related to their education. We used online interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify key facilitators and barriers. Ten main facilitator themes emerged, including advantages of using Internet and technology (n = 104; 43%); enjoyable feelings (n = 61; 25%); saving time (n = 37; 15%); and social support (n = 28; 12%). Nine main barrier themes emerged, including challenges of online education (n = 51; 31%); psychopathology and unenjoyable feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations (n = 37; 19%); Internet problems (n = 34; 18%); and COVID-19 restrictions (n = 30; 16%).
Acknowledgments
We deeply appreciate the support and voices of our participants and students who facilitated the study. We owe a heartfelt thanks to each of them and especially to Meryem Söğüt Kahramanlar, Gamze Nur Kurt, Fatma Kuştepe, Yulduz Kurbanova, Derya Tanhan, and Muhammed Ali.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
Photograph 1: The participant submitted the photo to share the most important facilitator (support, strength) for online distance education during COVID-19.
Photograph 2: The participant submitted the photo to share the most important facilitator (support, strength) for online distance education during COVID-19.
Photograph 3: The participant submitted the photo to share the most important barrier (concern, issue) for online distance education during COVID-19.
Photograph 4: The participant submitted the photo to share the most important barrier (concern, issue) for online distance education during COVID-19.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Ahmet Tanhan
Ahmet Tanhan received his PhD from UNC Greensboro and MS from University of Rochester (USA) and BS from Ege University (Turkey). He looks forward to collaborating for research and has affiliation with Adiyaman University, Economic and Social Research Center, Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences (Turkey), and UNC Greensboro (USA).
Christopher Boyle
Christopher Boyle, PhD, is professor of inclusion and educational psychology at The University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is the founding co-editor of Belonging and Human Connection and is an internationally recognized author on the subjects of inclusive education, and psychology.
Besra Taş
Besra Taş, PhD, works at the Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, and has been its head since 2018. She completed her undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. Her fields of work are family, divorce, and the effects of divorce on children.
Yasin Söğüt
Yasin Söğüt is the head of the Department of Radio, TV, and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication at Giresun University, Turkey. He is specifically interested in conscious media consumption. He is open to collaboration and currently works on new media, culture, identity, consumption culture, and individual-metaverse.
Craig C. Cashwell
Craig C. Cashwell, PhD, works as a professor at the Department of School Psychology and Counselor Education at William & Mary, USA. He is known for his contribution to spirituality and religiosity in mental health, teaching excellence, and openness to students and researchers to grow more.
Emel Genc
Emel Genc, PhD, works at the Department of Applied Psychology at Bartin University in Turkey. She teaches on the topics of family and child interaction, couple and family therapy, and trauma and crisis intervention. Her research and clinical interests center on trauma recovery, family process, and multicultural and diversity issues.
Hasan Turan Karatepe
Hasan Turan Karatepe, MD, is an associate professor of psychiatry at the Medeniyet University in İstanbul. He collaborates with İbn Haldun University psychology department and Forensic Medicine Institute of Justice Ministry. He is among the founders of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences and Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy Association, Turkey Chapters.