Important factors in measuring learners' satisfaction and continuance intention in open and distance learning (ODL) institutions

PurposeThe aim of this study is to explore and establish the relationships between justice dimensions, expectation-confirmation model (ECM) and continuance intention and also to examine the mediating effect of learners’ satisfaction and perceived usefulness toward continuance intentions of the university learning management system (LMS) within open and distance learning (ODL) context.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design was used, and the data were collected from a sample of 366 respondents utilizing the online survey questionnaire approach. Hypotheses were tested using the partial least square (PLS) SEM technique.FindingsThe findings reveal that justice dimensions (distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational justice) have a significant relationship with learners’ satisfaction. Performance confirmation have significant relationship with learners’ satisfaction and perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness has a direct significant relationship toward learners’ satisfaction, and learners’ satisfaction has a direct significant relationship toward continuance intention. For mediation analysis, learners’ satisfaction was found to have a mediation effect in the relationship between the justice dimensions and continuance intention. Learners’ satisfaction was also found to have a mediation effect on the relationship between performance conformation and continuance intention. However, learners’ satisfaction was found not to have a mediation effect on the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance intention, and perceived usefulness does not have a mediation effect in the relationship of performance confirmation and learners’ satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study advances knowledge and provides valuable insights to practitioners and academic scholars to have a better understanding of the effective attributes of the university LMS, and also to maximize the revenues and the sustainability of the institutions in long term, especially in the 21st century.