Publication Date

2003

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Mason, Robert C., 1940-

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education

LCSH

Real estate agents--Education (Continuing education)--Attitudes; Continuing education--Public opinion

Abstract

This study examined the reasons for participation in online learning among real estate professionals. The significance of this study concerns how online continuing professional education (CPE) can be focused to meet the needs of professionals by learning about the reasons for participation. Courses for online CPE geared towards real estate professionals are regularly being introduced and are designed to meet personal needs and state relicensure requirements, yet there is little information available to guide CPE designers and planners as to why real estate professionals participate in online education. The current study adapted an existing instrument, Grotelueschen's Participation Reasons Scale, and used responses from this instrument to assess reasons for participation in CPE among real estate professionals. It is a self-reporting tool that identifies educational reasons for participating in CPE and demonstrates that reasons are often different based on the profession and personal characteristics and has been used in several studies. It has broad acceptance measuring reasons for participation across many professions and was able to be adapted (with minor changes) for the study. An e-mail request to complete a web-based version of this instrument was sent to real estate professionals in northern Illinois. Responses from 96 persons were obtained. Exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis were performed. Three subscales were identified that indicated real estate professionals' reasons for participation. These subscales were professional service, professional perspective, and collegial learning. For each subscale, no significant gender, age, or years of experience differences were found. There was a marginally significant interaction between gender and years of experience for professional service with varied fluctuation across the factors. It is recommended that future studies focus on consideration that many professionals are in their second or third career, exploration of the changing demographics of real estate professionals, advancements in technology skills, and reasons professionals have identified for not participating in online CPE.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 108-113)

Extent

vi, 144 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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