This was a qualitative study using a case study method. Case study is an appropriate method because it attempts to examine one area of concern (what is the impact of distance education) through one case (the United States) or bounded system (Creswell, 2007). The United States was selected because the researchers are more familiar with the US educational system.
Research Design
This study was a single instrumental case study designed to emphasize a detailed contextual analysis of the impact of distance education on the United States educational system (Creswell, 2007). This study was also designed to take the reader into the setting of the early years of distance education with a clarity not provided in a more reportorial account (Marshall & Rossman, 2011).