A research report produced by five faculty from NorthCentral University, a fully online institution, exploring the effects of using learning contracts with students pursuing graduate degrees in their institution’s programs.
This quantitative study provides evidence of the benefits of learning contracts in online higher education. In this study, data were gathered from doctoral students who had completed all course work and comprehensive exams, but failed to make expected progress on dissertation. The students were given the opportunity to participate in a voluntary program requiring the execution of a learning contract.