Raising questions. Pursuing answers. Curating and categorizing. That’s how we support the QM system.
A founding principle that continues to drive Quality Matters is the need for QM Standards to reflect current academic research on effective learning. The initial standards and subsequent modifications have been based on the insights of teams of experienced online instructors and instructional designers and on the best practices standards promulgated by accrediting bodies and national and international organizations. In addition, the QM Standards have been examined for consistency with the conclusions of the educational research literature regarding factors that increase learning and engagement and that improve learner retention rates.
QM Research is focused on curating and supporting research studies related to the impact and use of the Quality Matters model. Literature reviews to inform members of the Rubric Committees in their effort to assure that the Rubrics remains current with the research are also an important component of QM Research activities. If you are looking for guidance on conducting QM-focused research or finding studies to support the use of QM, we recommend starting with the resources listed in this section.
qm research library
Search our curated selection of literature bearing a relationship to the QM Standards by either keyword or the QM Standard number. References on teaching competencies can be found in the Online Instructor and Teaching Competencies Literature Review.
research toolkit
Get guidance on developing a research question that will make for a solid study and facilitate attaining information significant to online learning stakeholders.
qm-related research resources
See a curated list of studies and publications related to the primary categories of QM Research.
Need help with your search? Contact QM Research with your questions.
Looking for a recording or miss a session?
See a list of all archived recordings.
Have an idea for a Research Webinar? Contact the Research team.
Research Webinars
QM Research Online Conference: November 15, 2019 — 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern
Join several speakers to delve into online learning research. Participants will join presentations using Zoom during the three-hour free conference. Seven presentations will be available — two to three in each of the three session slots. You'll choose a presentation in each session on the day of the conference. The afternoon will begin with a brief introduction, explaining how to enter the Zoom room for each presentation, along with an explanation of the format.
Select the titles below to view description and presenter information.
Session 1 — 1:20 - 2:05 p.m. Eastern
- Option 1: NSSE-QM Data on the Online Student Experience
Presented by Shimon Sarraf, Assistant Director for Survey Operations & Project Services at the National Survey of Student Engagement, Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research
A presentation and discussion of the data collected from an experimental item set based on the QM Standards that was administered to students at 21 institutions participating in the 2018 National Survey of Student Engagement. Tactics for increasing survey response rates will also be discussed.
- Option 2: California State University - East Bay: Data and Analysis on QM Impact to Students' Learning
Presented by Dr. Roger Wen, Sr., Director of the Online Campus and MS in Education - Online Teaching and Learning Program, California State University - East Bay
Data collected by California State University - East Bay in relation to its QM implementation and the positive student outcomes that are correlated with the use of QM will be presented and discussed.
- Option 3: Designing for Change: Using the Community of Inquiry and Transformative Learning to Create Authentic Learning Experiences
Presented by Dr. Patrick Dempsey, Director, ELEVATE - The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Loyola University Maryland
How can the Community of Inquiry relate to and be used with transformative learning for the creation of authentic learning experiences? Join this presentation to find out.
Session 2 — 2:10 - 2:55 p.m. Eastern
- Option 1: Using Learning Analytics: The Benefits and Pitfalls
Presented by Dr, Karen Swan, Professor, University of Illinois at Springfield
A discussion of using learning analytics to conduct effective research on teaching and learning that leads to student progression and retention.
- Option 2: Disseminating Research on Online Education: Best Practices
Presented by Dr. Mary Ellen Dello Stritto, Assistant Director, Ecampus Research Unit, Oregon State University
Discover effective ways to share research you have done on online education.
Session 3 — 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Eastern
- Option 1: Practical Methods for Designing Research Studies and Analyzing Data in Educational Settings
Presented by Dr. Whitney Zimmerman, Assistant Teaching Professor, Statistics, Pennsylvania State University
Join this session to discuss different research designs, such as pre- and post-test, Solomon four group, and experimental vs. observational. A brief introduction to propensity score matching will also be provided.
- Option 2: Online Instructor Competencies, Motivations, Attitudes, and Values: What the Research Literature Tells Us
Presented by Dr. Kay Shattuck, QM Director of Research, and Dr. Will Diehl, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Online Graduate Programs, Pennsylvania State University
Join this presentation for a discussion on what the research literature has shown about variables that are related to competent online instruction and other important features of online instructors.