My Observations

“An Exploratory Factor Analysis and Reliability Analysis of the Student Online Learning
Readiness (SOLR) Instrument”

The purpose of this study was to develop an effective instrument to measure student readiness in
online learning with reliable predictors of online learning success factors such as learning
outcomes and learner satisfaction. The validity and reliability of the Student Online Learning
Readiness (SOLR) instrument were tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and reliability
analysis. Twenty items from three competencies—social competencies, communication
competencies, and technical competencies—were designated for the initial instrument based on
the Student Online Learning Readiness (SOLR) Model as a new conceptual model. An
exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that four factor-structures of the instrument of student
readiness in online learning explained 66.69% of the variance in the pattern of relationships
among the items. All four factors had high reliabilities (all at or above Cronbach’s α > .823).
Twenty items remained in the final questionnaire after deleting two items which cross-loaded on
multiple factors (social competencies with classmates: five items; social competencies with
instructor: five items; communication competencies: four items; and technical competencies: six
items).