Some of the most frequently asked questions regarding DE, pertain to the quality of instruction and learning as compared to that experienced and achieved by students enrolled in F2F programs. Questions include: the cost of attendance compared to F2F institution; the needs of the “characteristic or average” DE students (e.g., DE students are generally older, employed, pay their own tuition, and computer skilled), as compared to “characteristic or average” students studying in traditional F2F environments; and finally, a comparison of factors affecting instructional efficacy and student learning in both situations. Many studies have researched various factors pertaining to DE, but as yet there is no comprehensive answer to these questions. Indeed, educational research often produces contradictory results. Differences among studies in treatments, settings, measurement instruments, and research methods, make research findings difficult to compare and may even obscure existing trends