| This research explored the diffusion process of distance education in schools of public health to determine best practices in the planning and implementation of future programs. The researcher traced the diffusion process by utilizing a qualitative, multiple-case study methodology using a semi-structured interview to collect the perceptions of the Distance Learning Coordinators within five schools of public health (SPHs) and a monitor survey of each program's website to corroborate interview data. The research questions focused on the implementation of programs, and included why SPHs developed distance education programs; how SPHs restructured to facilitate development and implementation of distance education programs; and how distance education was refined to meet the needs of the SPHs. The interviews were analyzed in NVivo software utilizing content analysis. Seven major themes emerged from the data. Themes relating to why schools adopted distance education programs were identified and categorized under Motivation and Facilitators. Themes related to the implementation stage, the how questions, were identified and categorized in the following sections: Barriers, Changes in Schools of Public Health, and Refinements and Changes in Distance Education. Two additional sections, the Impact of Distance Education and Future, complete the findings. |
