Olivier, Benjamin Hugh. "The impact of contact sessions and discussion forums on the academic performance of open distance learning students." International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning 17.6 (2016): 75-88.

This study explored how face-to-face contact sessions and online discussion forums affect the academic performance of Open Distance Learning (ODL) students. It found that attending written assignment preparation sessions and using online forums significantly improved performance, while examination preparation sessions did not. The study also highlighted low engagement levels and discussed possible reasons for these findings and their implications for improving student outcomes.