Revisiting Transactional Distance Theory in e-Learning Environment during COVID-19: Perspective from Computer Science Students

Abstract

This study is based on the separation of teachers and learners caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implication of Moore’s Transactional Distance Theory, which proliferated for nearly 30 years but has been inconsistently validated empirically. The quantitative approach was employed, with questionnaires distributed based on the learners’ perspectives. The subjects of the study include 153 respondents from computer science department of an Indonesian public university. Three key tenets of transactional distance include dialogue, structure, and learner autonomy were specifically addressed and validated as significant predictors in this study. The findings elucidated an inverse relationship between dialogue and learner autonomy respectively with transactional distance, and a less rigid course structure capable of contributing to lessen the perceived degree of transactional distance in the e-learning environment. Furthermore, this study discovered that e-learning satisfaction and internet connection speed had an impact on the extent of transactional distance.