Exploring the Mediatory Effect of Academic Quality on Computer-Based Examinations and Student Satisfaction of State Universities in Sri Lanka: A Concept Paper

This concept paper outlines a future study investigating the mediating role of academic quality in the relationship between computer-based examination and student satisfaction in Sri Lankan state universities. Students, as the primary beneficiaries of educational services, require a high level of satisfaction with academic activities provided by universities. In this context, maintaining academic quality is essential for fostering students’ satisfaction. The effectiveness of educational services hinges on their capability to meet established quality standards, which students recognize and appreciate as an effective educational experience. Notably, the way of delivering academic activities, including examination, influences academic quality. Students highly consider how examinations are conducted to ensure their satisfaction with the process, as examinations are one primary method of assessing their performance. The initiatives implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a significant transformation in examination methods, with traditional examinations shifting to computer-based examinations. This underscores the importance of conducting a thorough inquiry into their effect. While prior research has extensively explored shifts in lecture modes, the effects of examination modalities on academic quality and student satisfaction remain underexplored. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the effect of computer-based examinations on student satisfaction through academic quality and developing a robust conceptual framework for future research, reviewing the literature. A deductive research approach will be employed, utilizing a structured online questionnaire to gather data from students. The study will employ descriptive statistical analyses, including charts, tables, and summary measures to provide a clear understanding of the sample characteristics. Structural equation modelling (SEM) will be used to test the proposed conceptual framework. The findings of this future study are expected to provide critical insights into computer-based examinations, academic quality, and student satisfaction in state universities.