Assessment on the Quality of Outer Model in Path Model for MOOC Instrument

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) received a great attention in Malaysia to support the online learning activity in Malaysia Higher Education. However, the low completion rate and overall use of the system was reported, thus raised question regarding students’ willingness to continue use the system. Accordingly, to capture this issue, data from survey method constructed from different variables and items need to be validated empirically as an initial standpoint in identifying the problem of low completion rate. Hence, the assessment of validity needs to be carried out. This paper reports the procedure of the assessment of outer model in path model approach by using newly origin second generation multivariate statistical technique of Partial Least Squares - Path Model (or Structural Model), PLSPM. The objective of the study is to analyse the outer model focusing the reflective modes in PLSPM based model. Data was collected through online survey from students enrolled in MOOC in Malaysia Higher Education Institutions. Before evaluating the structural model or inner model, an assessment of outer model or measurement model which relies on two main criteria called reliability and validity was run to determine how specified the measured. These involve the internal consistency, (Cronbach alpha and composite reliability), construct validity (loading), convergent validity (AVE), and discriminant validity (Fornell-Larcker criterion, cross-loading and HTMT criterion). Results concluded that the outer model has achieved their validity and reliability. Thus, the instrument used for this survey confirm the internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, thus can be used in future research.