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IJIET 2017 Vol.7(1): 35-39 ISSN: 2010-3689
doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2017.7.1.838

Influence of Lecturer Immediacy on Students’ Learning Outcomes: Evidence from a Distance Education Program at a University in Saudi Arabia

A. Al Ghamdi

Abstract—Research on communication behaviours in fostering effective learning outcomes has become important, particularly in the distance education setting, where there is no face-to-face communication. Given the issue of physical distance between lecturer and students, the concept of behavioural immediacy aims to encompass behavioural styles that simulate a sense of co-presence in mediated communications to compensate for the lack of direct verbal contact and body language cues. Immediacy behaviours practised by the lecturer in virtual classrooms may reduce their psychological distance from students, creating a more social environment and increasing sensory stimulation, to aid the learning process.
This research was undertaken at a university in Saudi Arabia (a premier provider of distance education courses) to investigate the influence of lecturer immediacy (verbal and non-verbal) on the affective and cognitive dimensions of learning in a virtual classroom environment. The results showed a positive significant relationship between affective/cognitive learning and verbal/non-verbal immediacy of lecturers in virtual classrooms. Some gender differences were found showing that male students were more willing than female students to learn when the lecturer practised immediacy behaviours.

Index Terms—Distance education, lecturer e-immediacy, verbal and non-verbal immediacy, affective learning, cognitive learning.

A. Al Ghamdi is with Victoria University, Australia (e-mail: abukhalidaus@hotmail.com).

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Cite: A. Al Ghamdi, "Influence of Lecturer Immediacy on Students’ Learning Outcomes: Evidence from a Distance Education Program at a University in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 35-39, 2017.

General Information

  • ISSN: 2010-3689 (Online)
  • Abbreviated Title: Int. J. Inf. Educ. Technol.
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • DOI: 10.18178/IJIET
  • Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Jon-Chao Hong
  • Managing Editor: Ms. Nancy Y. Liu
  • E-mail: editor@ijiet.org
  • Abstracting/ Indexing: Scopus (CiteScore 2023: 2.8), INSPEC (IET), UGC-CARE List (India), CNKI, EBSCO, Google Scholar
  • Article Processing Charge: 800 USD

 

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