The Mediating Role of Satisfaction in Distance Education in the Relationship between Attitude towards Distance Education and Online Motivation

In this study, the attitudes of adult learners towards distance education were examined and the study motivation and satisfaction level of adult learners, which are two important factors affecting participation, continuation and even dropout, were examined. This study was conducted in a relational research design in quantitative research model and data were collected with the help of three relational scales. These scales are 'Attitude towards Distance Education Scale', 'Distance Education Satisfaction Scale' and' 'Online Learning Motivation Scale'. In this study, there were 350 participants, 302 women and 48 men. Adult learners of distance pedagogical formation program were selected within the scope of purposive sampling method. Regression analysis was conducted with the bootstrap method to test the mediating role of motivational behavior in online learning in the effect of individuals studying via distance education on attitude towards distance education and satisfaction in distance education. Process macro developed by Hayes (2018) was used in the analysis. Accordingly, it was found that the indirect effect of attitude towards distance education on satisfaction with distance education was significant. Thus, it was determined that motivation in online learning mediates the relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. This study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. There is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and online learning motivation. There is a significant positive relationship between satisfaction with distance education and online learning motivation, and in the mediation model, it is seen that all path coefficients are significant in the mediation model of distance education students' attitudes towards distance education affecting their satisfaction with distance education through their online learning motivation.