Developments and trends in synthesizing diverse forms of evidence: beyond comparisons between distance education and classroom instruction

This paper describes a range of models and methods for synthesizing diverse forms of research evidence. Although this topic is applicable to many contexts (e.g. education, health care), the focus here is on the research traditions of distance education and online learning. Thirteen models and method...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Distance education 2010-11, Vol.31 (3), p.231-256
Main Authors: Bethel, Edward C., Bernard, Robert M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Classroom environment
Classrooms
Comparative analysis
Computer Assisted Instruction
Design
Distance Education
Distance learning
e-learning
Education
Educational Research
Educational Technology
Effect Size
Electronic Learning
Evidence
Instructional Effectiveness
Learning
Literature Reviews
Meta Analysis
Methods
Nontraditional Education
Online Courses
Online instruction
Online learning
Politics of Education
Quasiexperimental Design
R&D
Research & development
Research Design
Research Methodology
research synthesis
Researchers
School Holding Power
Statistical Analysis
Studies
Synthesis
systematic review
Teaching Methods
Web Based Instruction
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Summary:This paper describes a range of models and methods for synthesizing diverse forms of research evidence. Although this topic is applicable to many contexts (e.g. education, health care), the focus here is on the research traditions of distance education and online learning. Thirteen models and methods are described, and seven examples from distance education and online learning are used to illustrate them. The models are classified as systematic, purposeful, and mixed and are described and compared in terms of purpose, methodological aspects, and expected outcomes.
ISSN:0158-7919
1475-0198
DOI:10.1080/01587919.2010.513950