Minority Students' Needs for Social Interaction Online - How These Needs Are Served by the Communication Functions of U.s. Higher Education Distance Learning Courses and Programs

This study examined the relationship of factors relating to students' perceptions of their need for social interaction in online classes and the extent to which the communication functions of online classes met those perceived needs. The study examined Hispanic and non-Hispanic community college students from one community college and Hispanic and non-Hispanic university doctoral students from one state university. The outcome measures were need for social interaction and the degree to which the communication functions of online courses met the need. A statistically significant difference was found in level of institution and students' perceived need for social interaction in online classes. University students perceived a higher need for social interaction. No statistically significant difference was found in Hispanic and non- Hispanic students need for social interaction in online classes. No statistically significant differences were found in level of institution or ethnicity regarding students' perceptions that the communication functions of online classes met the perceived needs.