Investigation of factors affecting transactional distance in E-learning environment with artificial neural networks.

In this study, the factors affecting the transactional distance levels of university students who continue their courses with distance education in the 2020-2021 academic years due to the Covid pandemic process were examined. Factors that affect transactional distance are modeled with Artificial Neural Networks, one of the data mining methods. Research data were collected from a total of 1638 students, 546 males and 1092 females, studying at various universities in Turkey, by using the personal information form, the Transactional Distance Scale and the Social Anxiety Scale in E-Learning Environments. Students' transactional distance levels were included in the model as dependent variable and social anxiety and 17 variables, which were thought to be theoretically related to transactional distance, were included in the model as independent variables. The research data were analyzed using Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Networks and Radial Based Functions (RBF) Artificial Neural Networks methods. In addition, these methods are compared in terms of estimation performance. According to the results of the research, it has been seen that the MLP method predicts the model with lower errors than the RBF method. For this reason, the results of the MLP were taken into account in the study. As a result of the analyzes carried out with this method, quickness of the instructor to give feedback on messages is determined as the most effective variable on the transactional distance.

Relations among anxiety, depression, and dissociative symptoms: the influence of abuse subtype.

The purpose of this study was to explore relations and mediating factors among dissociation, depression, and state-trait anxiety for individuals who experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, both physical and sexual abuse, or no abuse. In all, 549 Turkish undergraduate university students participated in the study and completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a demographic measure. Both physical abuse and sexual abuse were associated with elevated levels of dissociative symptoms and with pathological dissociation. Results demonstrated that patterns of relations between anxiety, depression, and the forms of dissociation differed significantly among the participants who reported sexual abuse as compared with the other groups. Results suggest that dissociative symptomatology may differ in its relation to depression and anxiety according to abuse subtype.