{"id":2886,"date":"2025-10-20T08:10:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=2886"},"modified":"2025-10-19T20:30:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:30:59","slug":"online-education-research-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-education-research-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Journal publications illustrate Oregon State\u2019s leadership in online education research"},"content":{"rendered":"

For 10 years, the Oregon State University Ecampus Research Unit<\/a> has made a significant impact on the field of online teaching and learning. It is one of the nation\u2019s only research units connected to an online education division, which helps to illustrate Oregon State\u2019s commitment to continually improving the student and faculty experiences at OSU and beyond.<\/p>\n

Our emphasis on learning, research and knowledge-sharing is reflected in the scholarly publications Oregon State Ecampus staff has contributed to in the past year. With that in mind, here are a handful of recently published journal articles authored or co-authored by Ecampus staff.<\/p>\n

1. Financial aid matters: The relationship among financial aid, retention, and graduation rates in online students<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mary Ellen Dello Stritto<\/strong>, director, OSU Ecampus Research Unit
\nDane Skinner<\/strong>, assistant director of analytics, OSU Ecampus
\nNaomi R. Aguiar<\/strong>, associate director of research, OSU Ecampus Research Unit
\nGreta R. Underhill<\/strong>, postdoctoral scholar, OSU Ecampus Research Unit<\/p>\n

Published in the Journal of Student Financial Aid<\/a><\/p>\n

Through an analysis of five cohorts of undergraduate students pursuing degrees online, this study explores how financial aid relates to retention and graduation outcomes. The researchers found that higher levels of total financial aid increased the likelihood of graduation and decreased the likelihood of stopping out, with consistent benefits observed across both full-time and part-time students.<\/p>\n

The findings highlight the particularly important role financial aid plays in supporting persistence among part-time online learners. Read the study \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Exploring the relationship between motivation and academic performance among online and blended learners: A meta-analytic review<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Naomi R. Aguiar<\/strong>, associate director of research, OSU Ecampus Research Unit
\nWith co-authors Andrew Walker<\/strong> (Utah State University), Raechel N. Soicher<\/strong> (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Yu-Chun Kuo<\/strong> (Rowan University) and Jessica Resig<\/strong> (Applied Research Institute)<\/p>\n

Published in the Online Learning Journal<\/a><\/p>\n

This article draws on results from 52 studies to examine how student motivation relates to academic performance in online and blended learning. Unlike research on traditional in-person courses, the findings showed only weak links between student performance and motivation factors, such as self-efficacy and achievement goals.<\/p>\n

The results challenge the common belief that motivation is a strong predictor of success in online and blended settings, suggesting that other factors may play a larger role. Read the study \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Signs of serendipitous universal design for learning in online courses<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Greta R. Underhill<\/strong>, postdoctoral scholar, OSU Ecampus Research Unit
\nCat Turk<\/strong>, undergraduate research assistant, OSU Ecampus Research Unit<\/p>\n

Published in the Online Learning Journal<\/a><\/p>\n

The authors examine how experienced online instructors may unintentionally apply principles of universal design for learning (UDL) while designing their courses, even without formal awareness of the framework. It finds that instructors naturally engage in reflective decision-making processes \u2014 for example, noticing student needs, trying new strategies and refining their practices \u2014 that align with UDL\u2019s core principles of engagement, representation, and action and expression.<\/p>\n

The article suggests that this \u201cserendipitous\u201d alignment offers a pathway for instructors to move from ad-hoc inclusive practices toward more intentional and supported course design. Read the article \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Mentoring experiences of new online teachers: Voices of graduate and early career instructors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Heather Garcia<\/strong>, instructional design specialist, OSU Ecampus
\nMary Ellen Dello Stritto<\/strong>, director, OSU Ecampus Research Unit<\/p>\n

Published in Teaching and Learning Inquiry<\/a><\/p>\n

This study explores the mentoring experiences of graduate student and early career instructors who teach online courses at a mid-size public university in the United States. Using a narrative methodology, the authors analyzed interview transcripts and found that instructors who are new to online teaching have variable access to mentoring, experience different sources of mentoring, and engage with multiple types of mentoring.<\/p>\n

They conclude with suggested actions for units looking to support mentoring for online instructors. Read the study \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Skills needed for success in online teaching: A qualitative study of experienced instructors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mary Ellen Dello Stritto<\/strong>, director, OSU Ecampus Research Unit
\nNaomi R. Aguiar<\/strong>, associate director of research, OSU Ecampus Research Unit<\/p>\n

Published in the Online Learning Journal<\/a><\/p>\n

This study explores which skills experienced online instructors view as most important for successful teaching in virtual settings. Interviews with 33 faculty members, each with over a decade of online teaching experience, revealed six major themes related to the skills they think are most valuable for online instructors to have: communication, organization, time management, technology skills, flexibility and creativity.<\/p>\n

The findings offer practical insight into what helps instructors create engaging and effective online learning experiences. Read the study \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

The Oregon State Ecampus Research Unit is a part of OSU\u2019s Division of Educational Ventures<\/a>. The publications highlighted here represent just one aspect of the Research Unit\u2019s wide-ranging output and impact in a given year. Recently, the Ecampus Research Fellows Program celebrated a decade of impact by Oregon State faculty members<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>For 10 years, the Oregon State University Ecampus Research Unit has made a significant impact on the field of online teaching and learning. It is one of the nation\u2019s only research units connected to an online education division, which helps to illustrate OSU’s commitment to continually improving the student and faculty experiences. With that in mind, here are a handful of recently published journal articles authored or co-authored by Ecampus staff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":2425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,14,679],"tags":[163],"class_list":["post-2886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-research","category-leadership-and-innovation","tag-oregon-state-ecampus-research-unit"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/note-taking-laptop.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-Ky","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2498,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-2023-online-education-scholarly-publications\/","url_meta":{"origin":2886,"position":0},"title":"Want to know what some of the top minds in online education are thinking about?","author":"Elena Moffet","date":"March 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The team at Ecampus offered up eight scholarly articles and trade publications in 2023. Check out this round-up of their work and dive deeper into topics like quality assurance in online education, inclusive learning design, digital accessibility, and much more.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Macro image of magazines open on a table.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-Ecampus-scholarly-publications-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-Ecampus-scholarly-publications-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-Ecampus-scholarly-publications-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-Ecampus-scholarly-publications-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":641,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/research-database\/","url_meta":{"origin":2886,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State\u2019s new research database responds to faculty skepticism of online, hybrid learning","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"November 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University Ecampus has developed a new research database that allows users to explore whether the learning outcomes of online and\/or hybrid (online and in-person) education are equivalent to face-to-face environments.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Yvette Gibson, Oregon State Ecampus rangeland sciences instructor, browses OSU's Online Learning Efficacy Research Database on a silver laptop.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Yvette-database-main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Yvette-database-main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Yvette-database-main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2046,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/lisa-templeton-elected-upcea-president\/","url_meta":{"origin":2886,"position":2},"title":"Oregon State Ecampus Associate Provost Templeton elected to serve as UPCEA president","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Under the leadership of Lisa L. Templeton since 2008, Oregon State Ecampus has established itself as a national leader and innovator in the field of online education. Now the Ecampus associate provost is using her experience to impact institutions of higher education internationally in her new role as president of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Lisa-Templeton-800x450-220627.jpg?fit=848%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Lisa-Templeton-800x450-220627.jpg?fit=848%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Lisa-Templeton-800x450-220627.jpg?fit=848%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Lisa-Templeton-800x450-220627.jpg?fit=848%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1883,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-class-size-research\/","url_meta":{"origin":2886,"position":3},"title":"When does online class size matter? 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