Investigation of university students' mood states and perceptions of transactional distance in online learning environments: A mixed methods research

In this study, university students' emotional states and perceptions of transactional distance in online learning environments were examined. An explanatory mixed method design was used in the study, and the necessary data for the study was collected from 468 students studying at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University in the 2022-2023 academic year. In the quantitative dimension of the study, data was collected using the Adolescent Emotion Scale for Online Courses and the Adaptation Study of the Revised Operative Distance Scale, and in the qualitative dimension, data was collected using a semi-structured interview form. The collected quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 program and the qualitative data were analyzed using the content analysis method. According to the data obtained after the study, in general, the emotional states of the students are at a medium level. Anxiety levels of female students were found to be higher than male students, and significant differences were detected depending on age. The effect of the device students use in online lessons on their emotional state has been observed; While students using computers generally experienced more positive emotions, students using smartphones experienced higher feelings of boredom and hopelessness. Students who had personal computers felt more positive. Perception of operational distance is generally high; Transactional distance levels for student-teacher interaction were determined to be the highest, and transactional distance levels for student-student interaction were determined to be the lowest. Students' generally negative findings about course materials indicate that factors such as communication problems, technical problems and lack of materials may affect students' perception of operational distance.