The Influence of Personality Type on a Distance Course in Accounting

Abstract

Although distance education technology is being promoted as a method of reaching students who cannot be residents on campus, the dynamics of this technology on education are not well understood. While some individuals find a distance course interesting and useful, others perceive it as frustrating. We compare the perception and performance of individuals with different personality types in a traditional face-to-face (FTF) classroom with those in a distance classroom facilitated by two-way audio-video (AVM) technology. The results indicate that individuals with certain personality types perceive distance education as less appropriate than would those with other personality types. The performance of individuals is not linked to their personality types and more importantly their performance is not related to their perception of how appropriate the communication mode is for the learning environment. Performance, however, is influenced by the communication mode utilized for the traditional or distance course.