Analyzing the Impact of Basic Psychological Needs on Student Academic Performance: A Comparison of Post-Pandemic Interactive Synchronous HyFlex and Pre-Pandemic Traditional Face-to-Face Instruction

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Analyzing the Impact of Basic Psychological Needs on Student Academic Performance: A Comparison of Post-Pandemic Interactive Synchronous HyFlex and Pre-Pandemic Traditional Face-to-Face Instruction
Language: English
Authors: Nathan Mentzer (ORCID 0000-0001-9788-7901), Elnara Mammadova (ORCID 0000-0002-4120-9367), Adrie Koehler (ORCID 0000-0003-0954-1391), Lakshmy Mohandas (ORCID 0000-0002-2953-6170), Shawn Farrington
Source: Educational Technology Research and Development. 2025 73(1):91-114.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 2110799
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Psychological Needs, Academic Achievement, Pandemics, COVID-19, Blended Learning, Synchronous Communication, In Person Learning, Undergraduate Students, Active Learning, Student Projects, Design, Grades (Scholastic), Predictor Variables, Class Rank, Gender Differences, Models
DOI: 10.1007/s11423-024-10417-2
ISSN: 1042-1629
1556-6501
Abstract: During COVID, HyFlex gained popularity and became a "new normal" that educators need to consider as an effective instructional approach. Previous research offers conflicting findings related to the impact of HyFlex instruction on students' basic psychological needs and academic performance. Our investigation provides insight into a specific variation of HyFlex we call "Interactive Synchronous HyFlex" as it is situated in a highly collaborative active learning environment. The investigation aimed to clarify relationships between students' academic performance, basic psychological needs, and demographics of a pre-pandemic face-to-face offering of an undergraduate project-based design course and the same course using an Interactive Synchronous HyFlex approach at the end of the pandemic. Demographic data were collected from university databases; academic performance was measured by end-of-semester grades; and a survey measured basic psychological needs. The findings revealed that students in the HyFlex offering perceived their basic psychological needs as being met as effectively or significantly more so compared to students in the face-to-face offering. Significant predictors of student academic success were different for face-to-face environments compared to predictors that were significant in HyFlex environments. In the HyFlex environment, relatedness to the instructor was a significant predictor of academic success as was class rank and gender. These findings point to the importance of instructor presence as a key factor in student success in the HyFlex model. Overall, the results indicate that the HyFlex environment is a viable educational model for the post-pandemic era.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1462626
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:During COVID, HyFlex gained popularity and became a "new normal" that educators need to consider as an effective instructional approach. Previous research offers conflicting findings related to the impact of HyFlex instruction on students' basic psychological needs and academic performance. Our investigation provides insight into a specific variation of HyFlex we call "Interactive Synchronous HyFlex" as it is situated in a highly collaborative active learning environment. The investigation aimed to clarify relationships between students' academic performance, basic psychological needs, and demographics of a pre-pandemic face-to-face offering of an undergraduate project-based design course and the same course using an Interactive Synchronous HyFlex approach at the end of the pandemic. Demographic data were collected from university databases; academic performance was measured by end-of-semester grades; and a survey measured basic psychological needs. The findings revealed that students in the HyFlex offering perceived their basic psychological needs as being met as effectively or significantly more so compared to students in the face-to-face offering. Significant predictors of student academic success were different for face-to-face environments compared to predictors that were significant in HyFlex environments. In the HyFlex environment, relatedness to the instructor was a significant predictor of academic success as was class rank and gender. These findings point to the importance of instructor presence as a key factor in student success in the HyFlex model. Overall, the results indicate that the HyFlex environment is a viable educational model for the post-pandemic era.
ISSN:1042-1629
1556-6501
DOI:10.1007/s11423-024-10417-2