The digital transformation of present-day society has, along with the impacts of COVID-19, led university students to prefer online education, and the need to recognize the factors that influence its effectiveness and perceived quality has, therefore, emerged.
The objective of the present study was to determine the effect that the socio-demographic variables of academic level, gender, area of residence and age have on the perceptions of online Bachelor’s degree students at the Technical University of Manabi with regards to the components “pedagogical, technological and social organization of the online teaching-learning process” (PC1), “learning achievements” (PC2), “assessment and feedback” (PC3), and the “design of the course or subject” (PC4) in the Post-COVID-19 context.
Descriptive-correlational-type research with a quantitative focus was developed, in which 545 students responded to a questionnaire adapted to and validated for the context of Ecuador.
The results of the PERMANOVA and the pairwise effects evidenced the statistically significant impact of socio-demographic variables such as academic level, gender and age on the students’ perceptions of the principle components of online education. Specifically, academic level had an influence on PC1 and PC3, while gender affected PC4. Finally, the main finding of this study was that students of 26 years of age and over have a more favorable perception when compared to that of those who are younger.
The results obtained provide an empirical basis on which to improve online education in the Post-COVID-19 era, making it more effective, inclusive, equitable and adapted.
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How to Cite: Arteaga-Briones, L. A., Guamán-Lazo, L. Ángel, Azúa-Arteaga, A. A., & López-Padrón, A. (2025). Impact of socio-demographic variables on university students’ perception of online education post-COVID-19. RIED-Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.5944/ried.28.2.43294
