What contributed to students’ online learning satisfaction during the pandemic?

Abstract

Due to the sudden transition to online education because of the outbreak of COVID-19, various strategies and factors have been extensively investigated to increase the effectiveness and quality of online education. In this study, we reviewed and synthesized the factors correlating with students’ online learning satisfaction, considered a basic component when evaluating online education quality. From 42 studies that were systematically searched from nine databases, 164 separated correlates of students’ satisfaction were found. These were categorized into four domains: student-related factors, instructor-related factors, quality of online classes, and e-learning readiness. Overall effect size (ES) and four subgroup ESs were then calculated. The results indicated that the domain of instructor-related factors showed the highest ES compared to other domains. Among the factors, instructional support, technology acceptance, and perceived presence were the three top factors exhibiting large ES. Several implications are discussed to enhance these crucial factors.

Keywords:

• distance learning
• higher education
• online education
• student satisfaction
• pandemic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was declared by the author(s).

Funding information

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this review article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sin-Hyang Kim

Sin-Hyang Kim has two PhDs: in social welfare from Hoseo University and in nursing from Chung-Ang University in South Korea. She is currently working at Shinsung University as an assistant professor. She has expertise in social statistics and specializes in data synthesis using big data.

Sihyun Park

Sihyun Park is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing in Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea. She obtained her PhD from the University of Washington School of Nursing in 2015. She teaches several subjects related to women’s health and gender equity.