Attitude, digital literacy and self efficacy: Flow-on effects for online learning behavior

Online distance education allows easy and convenient access to learning opportunities. As with other forms of education, high self-efficacy often encourages greater student confidence and autonomy. While self-efficacy has been shown to have positive effects in face-to-face education, its antecedents and consequences in online distance education are less clear. This study addresses this issue. First, it considers two important antecedents: attitude and digital literacy. Second, the study considers the effects of self-efficacy on three important learning behaviors: peer engagement, learning management system (LMS) interaction and course convener interaction. Findings from an online survey of 151 postgraduate business students suggest that positive student attitude and digital literacy significantly contribute to self-efficacy. In turn, self-efficacy has positive effects on peer engagement, learning management system (LMS) interaction and convener interaction.