The Effectiveness of Survey Instruments on Students ’ Frustration in Regards to Online Courses

A pilot test was conducted on a new constructed survey instrument designed to measure student frustration levels in four specific areas that were related to participation in a computer-based distance education course. The four areas investigated were the amount of frustration attributed to the characteristics and instructions of the class, the skill and competence of the instructor, the course format as related to computer technology, and the general experience of participating in an online course. The survey was distributed to students enrolled in computer-based (online) distance education courses. The survey instrument was evaluated for reliability and construct validity. The results for reliability were encouraging ( = .9226). Yet, the factor analysis results of a rotated three-factor solution to assess construct validity were inconclusive. This may have been the result of the small sample size (n = 55). The lack of research and evaluative instruments in this area emphasizes the need for an in-depth analysis of this topic and the subsequent modification of the survey instrument.