Efficacy of Online Training of the Elected Representatives of Local Rural Government: A Focus Group Study

• Authors: Debarshi Mukherjee , Subhayan Chakraborty , Lokesh Kumar Jena , Khandakar Kamrul Hasan , Ranjit Debnath , Sudakshina Mitra

Abstracts

EN

Aim. Before COVID-19, training institutions rarely used eLearning to improve Elected Representatives' (ERs) skills in rural development who come from vernacular social and academic backgrounds. Online education has numerous upsides, but there is always some controversy about whether or not every learner will benefit from the same approach. The study was conducted in Tripura, a North-Eastern state of India, examine the efficacy of online training among the ERs responsible for extending the rural local government services to the common people. Methods. This study utilised the qualitative technique of focus group discussion to acquire a comprehensive grasp of the positive and negative opinions of ERs regarding their experiences with online training. Samples were collected from all the districts and all three tiers of rural government. Results. The study is a pioneering work to evaluate views of ERs on e-learning. Lack of technical support, boredom in training sessions, and lack of allowances for internet use, transportation to headquarters for training, and refreshments contributed the trainees' negative experiences. Further, training materials were poorly presented and failed to convey the intended message. Conclusions. This study will enable trainers, administrators, and policymakers to reengineer their andragogic structures of future grassroots online training programmes for higher efficacy. ERs dislike e-learning, and government regulations that favour classroom instruction worsen this issue. Policy initiatives to reconcile demand and supply, such as high-quality capacity building for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) ERs with vernacular academics, are needed to achieve practical results.

Keywords

EN

Elected Members; Rural Local Government; Perception; Online Training; Focus Group Discussion

• Publisher: Fundacja Pro Scientia Publica
• Journal: Journal of Education Culture and Society
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 415-432

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Debarshi Mukherjee

• Department of Commerce & Business Studies Jamia Milia Islamia University New Delhi 110025, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000190390329

author

Subhayan Chakraborty

• Department of Business Management, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, 799022, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000327109113

author

Lokesh Kumar Jena

• Department of Business Management, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, 799022, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000311466044

author

Khandakar Kamrul Hasan

• Department of Business Management, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, 799022, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000224621165

author

Ranjit Debnath

• Department of Business Management, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, 799022, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000275869857

author

Sudakshina Mitra

• Department of Business Management, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, 799022, India

• https://orcid.org/0000000248740038

References

• Akyıldız, S. T., & Ahmed, K. H. (2021). An overview of qualitative research and focus group discussion. International Journal of Academic Research in Education, 7(1), 2149-2913.
• Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2010). Learning on demand: Online education in the United States, 2009. Sloan Consortium. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED529931.
• Al-Saedi, K., Al-Emran, M., Ramayah, T., & Abusham, E. (2020). Developing a general extended UTAUT model for M-payment adoption. Technology in Society, 62, Article 101293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101293.
• Boateng, R., Mbrokoh, A. S., Boateng, L., Senyo, P. K., & Ansong, E. (2016). Determinants of e-learning adoption among students of developing countries. The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 33(4), 248-262.
• Burrows, D., & Kendall, S. (1997). Focus groups: what are they and how can they be used in nursing and health care research? Social Sciences in Health, 3, 244-253.
• Daft, R. L., & Lengel, R. H. (1984). Information Richness: A New approach to managerial behavior and organization design. Research in Organizational Behavior, 6, 191-233.
• Deliens, T., Clarys, P., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Deforche, B. (2014). Determinants of eating behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC public health, 14(1), Article number 53.
• Deliens, T., Deforche, B., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Clarys, P. (2015). Determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC public health, 15(1), Article 201.
• Denby, S. (2010). The importance of training needs analysis. Industrial and commercial training, 42(3), 147-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197851011038132.
• Gregorio, S. D. (2020). The new NVivo sample projects. Lumivero. https://lumivero.com/resources/new-sample-projects/
• Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. Sage Publications Inc.
• Hayward, C., Simpson, L., & Wood, L. (2004). Still left out in the cold: problematising participatory research and development. Sociologia Ruralis, 44(1), 95-108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2004.00264.x.
• Horner, S. D. (2000). Using focus group methods with middle school children. Research in Nursing & Health, 23(6), 510-517. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200012)23:6<510::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-L.
• Hu, P. J., Chau, P. Y., Sheng, O. R. L., & Tam, K. Y. (1999). Examining the technology acceptance model using physician acceptance of telemedicine technology. Journal of management information systems, 16(2), 91-112.
• Huisman, R., Miller, W., & Trinoskey, J. (2011). We’ve Wordled, have you?: Digital images in the library classroom. College & Research Libraries News, 72(9), 522-526. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.72.9.8634
• Ishii, K., Lyons, M. M., & Carr, S. A. (2019). Revisiting media richness theory for today and future. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 1(2), 124-131. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.138.
• Israel, B. A., Schulz, A. J., Parker, E. A., & Becker, A. B. (1998). Review of community-based research: assessing partnership approaches to improve public health. Annual review of public health, 19, 173-202. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.19.1.173.
• Khalil, R., Mansour, A. E., Fadda, W. A., Almisnid, K., Aldamegh, M., Al-Nafeesah, A., Alkhalifah, A., & Al-Wutayd, O. (2020). The sudden transition to synchronized online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study exploring medical students’ perspectives. BMC Medical Education, 20, Article 285. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02208-z.
• Khambete, J. D. (2020). Building awareness to changing behaviour: A paradigm shift with digital technology. India Water Portal. https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/building-awareness-changing-behaviour-digital-technology-times-covid-19.
• Kitzinger, J. (1994). The methodology of Focus Groups: The importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 16(1), 103-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.ep11347023.
• McGehee, W., & Thayer, P. W. (1961). Training in business and industry. Washington DC: Wiley & Sons.
• McNiff, K. (2016). What is qualitative research? Lumivero. https://lumivero.com/resources/what-is-qualitative-research/
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. (n.d.). Annual Report 2019-2020. New Delhi: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
• Moore, M. L., & Dutton, P. (1978). Training needs analysis: Review and critique. Academy of Management Review, 3(3), 532-545.
• Morgan, D. L., & Krueger, R. A. (1998a). Analyzing and reporting focus group results. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publication.
• Morgan, D. L. (1998b). Planning focus groups. Sage Publicatioons.
• Morgan, D. L., Krueger, R. A., & King, J. A. (1998c). The focus group kit (Vols.1 - 6). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.
• Morgan, D. L. (2002). Focus group interviewing. In J. F. Gubrium, & J. A. Holstein (Eds.), Handbook of interviewing research: Context & method (pp. 141–159). Sage Publications Inc.
• Mukherjee, D., & Hasan, K. K. (2020). Learning Continuity during COVID-19 pandemic challenges: A methodological and thematic review. South Asian Journal of Management, 27(3), 56-78.
• Mukherjee, D. (2014). Factors of management education in India as perceived by learners and providers: An empirical study. Vision, 18(2), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972262914527872.
• Mukherjee, D. (2012). Role of communication medium in web-based instructional environment in Indian management education. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 21, 41-59.
• Murphy, M. P. (2020). COVID-19 and emergency eLearning: Consequences of the securitization of higher education for post-pandemic pedagogy. Contemporary Security Policy, 41(3), 492-505. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2020.1761749.
• Narayana, D. (2005). Local governance without capacity building: Ten years of Panchayati Raj. Economic and Political Weekly, 40(26), 2822-2832.
• Newberry, B. (2001). Raising student social presence in online classes. WebNet 2001: World Conference on the WWW and Internet.
• Nyumba, T. O., Wilson, K., Derrick, C. J., & Mukherjee, N. (2018). The use of focus group discussion methodology: Insights from two decades of application in conservation. Methods in ecology and evolution. British Ecological Society, 9(1), 20-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12860.
• Orr, D. (1992). Ecological literacy: Education and the transition to a postmodern world. State University of New York Press.
• Panchayat Raj Training Institutes, RD (Panchayat) Department. (2021-22). Training Calendar. Agartala: Government of Tripura.
• Rabiee, F. (2004). Focus-group interview and data analysis. Proceedings of the nutrition society, 63(4), 655-660. https://doi.org/10.1079/PNS2004399.
• Taylor, P. J., Driscoll, M. P. O., & Binning, J. F. (1998). A new integrated framework for training needs analysis. Human Resource Management Journal, 8(2), 29–50. doi:10.1111/j.1748-8583.1998.tb00165.x.
• Thaneshan, L., Yamin, F. M., & Othman, S. N. (2020). The role of convenience, compatibility and media richness in accepting mobile web in Malayasis. Journal of Information System and Technology Management, 5(17), 12-19. https://doi.org/10.35631/JISTM.517002.
• Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. Management Information Systems Quaterly, 27 (3), 425-478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540.
• Yang, Y., & Cornelius, L. F. (2004). Students' perceptions towards the quality of online education: A qualitative approach. Association for Educational Communications and Technology.

Identifiers

DOI

10.15503/jecs2023.1.415.432

Biblioteka Nauki

18679289