Understanding MOOC continuance: An empirical examination of social support theory

ABSTRACT

Learning outcomes is mediated by multi-channel learning environment and social engagement. Both factors may play a significant role in understanding motivation to learn in massive open online courses (MOOCs). The goal of this study was twofold: a. to compare behavior intention patterns of traditional e-learning platform and MOOCs participants; b. to examine relationships between behavior intention and perceived social support. Therefore, this study applies the concepts of technology acceptance model and social support theory to examine the underlying the determinants of learners’ continuance intention factors for MOOCs in Taiwan. In addition, this study adopts perceived convenience, computer self-efficacy, sense of community, and perceived gains as the constructs of social support perspective. Our examination reveals that sense of community, and perceived gains influence learners’ behavior intention of both general e-learning platform and MOOCs. However, perceived convenience and computer self-efficacy did not influence learners’ behavior intention for traditional e-learning platform, but still have efforts for MOOCs. In summary, our results show that the social support theory and technology acceptance model could be the suitable examination model to investigate the behavioral intentions for MOOCs. These findings have significant theoretical and managerial implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Massive open online courses (MOOCs)
• technology acceptance model
• social support theory
• continuance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Jyh-Yih Hsu is a Professor of Management Information Systems at National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. His current research interests include smart living, smart grid, e-learning, and big data mining. Dr. Hsu's research is published or is forthcoming in Knowledge-Based Systems, Applied Economics Letters, International Journal of Business Research, Energy Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, and a number of national and international conference proceedings.

Chia-Chen Chen is an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems at National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. Her current research interests include e-learning, u-learning, e-commerce, social network, and smart living. Dr. Chen's research is published or is forthcoming in Information Sciences, Information Fusion, Computers and Education, Journal of Educational Technology & Society, Interactive Learning Environments, The Electronic Library, Telematics and Informatics, Future Generation Computer Systems, Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, International Journal of Mobile Communications, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Expert Systems with Applications, International Journal of Information Technology and Management, and a number of national and international conference proceedings.

Po-Feng Ting is a master student of Management Information Systems at National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. Her current research interests include e-learning, and smart living.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [grant number 105-2511-S-005-001-MY3].