A Comparison Study of On-campus and Online Learning Outcomes for a Research Methods Course

Using a pretest/posttest design, student learning outcomes were examined for online learning and on-campus versions of the same course taught by the same instructor. The course was a master’s-level research methods course taught in a counselor education program. Although both groups of students (online and on-campus) scored significantly higher on the posttest than on the pretest, there were no significant differences in performance between the two groups. Similarly, examination of the students’ course (teaching) evaluations did not reveal any significant difference in mean course ratings between the on-campus and online learning versions of the course.