Correlation Between Mentors and Learners Perceptions of Mentors Behaviors in Completing Online Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

The advent of completing doctoral dissertations in an online environment is a natural extension of the technological process changes in today’s world. This study focused on determining the relationship between e-mentors and learners’ perceptions of competencies utilizing Schichtel’s theory of competency model. The need for the study is shown by low retention rates of 60-70% for doctoral students when completing their dissertations. The results indicate there is no relationship between e-mentors and learners’ perception of competencies. The results help to explain major difficulties in understanding learners’ satisfaction with the online dissertation process and the low retention rates of completing dissertations.