Effects of Interaction on E-Learning Satisfaction and Outcome: A Review of Empirical Research and Future Research Direction

Wehavereviewedseverale-learningempiricalresearchstudies thathaveinvestigatedtheeffects ofinteractiononsatisfactionandoutcomesofe-learning,publishedbetween2001and2010.Their conclusions seemed inconclusive, ranging from no relationships between interactions and two dependentvariables(satisfactionandlearningoutcomes)topositiverelationships.In-depthanalyses oftheseempiricalstudiesconductedbyexaminingdependentandindependentconstructsandtheir indicators, research methods, and participants’ characteristics. We conclude that the conflicting resultsareduetoprimarilydifferentdefinitionsofthedependentandindependentconstructsand their indicator variables, different research methods employed, and participant’s demographic characteristics.Inordertobuilde-learningtheoriesandacumulativeresearchtradition,itisnecessary to(1)definethedependent/independentconstructsandtheirindicators,(2)employcommonresearch methodology,and(3)testcommonlyacceptedcausalmodels.Further,wesuggestthefollowingthree recommendationtoguidethefutureresearch.Theyincludeusingonlydialogue,insteadofmixing dialogueandinteraction,conductinglearningtheory-basedholisticapproach,andpropertreatment ofcontextualvariables. KEywORDS Cumulative Tradition, Dependent Variables, Dialogue, Distance Learning, e-Learning, Empirical Research, Independent Variables, Interaction, Learning Outcomes, Research Methods, Satisfaction