The Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Academic Performance: Face-to-Face Learning Versus Distance Learning Implemented to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v22i1.5031

Keywords:

demographic characteristics, academic performance, face-to-face learning, distance learning, Coronavirus, COVID-19

Abstract

The spread of COVID-19 presents an opportunity for many educational institutions to implement distance learning and ensure the provision of educational resources and services, secure income and revenues, and contribute to the control and prevention of the coronavirus. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of demographic characteristics on academic performance. Students’ grades and grade point averages (GPA) were collected from the Admission and Registration Unit, Al Ain University in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The data were used to measure academic performance in face-to-face (F2F) learning and distance learning (DL) implemented by the university to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Statistical analysis including the Mann-Whitney test, Spearman’s rho test, and a regression test were used to answer research questions and verify hypotheses. Students demonstrated better academic performance in DL than F2F learning. It was found that the number of weak students in F2F learning dropped sharply by more than 11% in DL. Demographic characteristics demonstrated a significant impact on students’ academic performance and predicted at least 7.4% variation in F2F learning and DL. Findings of the study support the model developed by Tinto (1975) which proposed the impact of student’s attributes, experiences, and family backgrounds on academic performance. The findings suggest non-DL institutions should continue offering DL side-by-side with F2F learning programs.

Author Biographies

Prof. Ghaleb A. El Refae, Al Ain University

Business Administration Department,

College of Business,

Al Ain University, Al Ain,

United Arab Emirates

Dr. Abdoulaye Kaba, Al Ain University

Assistant Professor,

College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences,

Al Ain University,

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Shorouq Eletter, Al Ain University

 Assistant Professor

College of Business,  Al Ain University,

Al Ain, UAE

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Published

2021-03-11

How to Cite

Ghaleb A. El Refae, G. ., Kaba, A., & Eletter , S. . (2021). The Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Academic Performance: Face-to-Face Learning Versus Distance Learning Implemented to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 22(1), 91–110. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v22i1.5031

Issue

Section

Research Articles