# The impact of student psychological empowerment on class stickiness

## TL;DR

This study shows that student empowerment boosts engagement and satisfaction in online courses.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a sequential model linking psychological empowerment to class stickiness and course evaluation.

## Key findings

- Empowerment strongly predicts psychological ownership and involvement.
- Involvement and ownership significantly enhance class stickiness.
- Class stickiness is a key driver of positive course evaluations.

## Abstract

Sustaining student engagement (“class stickiness”) in hybrid/online courses is essential for learning and retention. Grounded in customer-engagement theory, we test a sequential model where student psychological empowerment fosters psychological ownership and involvement, which in turn drive class stickiness and course evaluation.

A cross-sectional survey was administered to 320 Chinese undergraduates in blended courses. Validated scales measured empowerment (10 items), ownership (10), involvement (7), stickiness (10), and evaluation (2). After Harman’s single-factor and CFA tests, structural equation modeling (LISREL 8.8) tested six hypotheses.

All scales showed high reliability (α ≥ .82) and convergent validity (AVE > .50, CR > .70). Empowerment positively predicted stickiness (β = .73, p < .001) and ownership (β = .74, p < .001). Involvement predicted stickiness (β = .90, p < .001) and ownership (β = .95, p < .001). Ownership strongly influenced stickiness (β = .95, p < .001). Stickiness enhanced course evaluation (β = .87, p < .001), explaining 76 % of its variance.

Results support the empowerment → ownership/involvement → stickiness → evaluation chain, highlighting the need for autonomy-supportive, ownership-fostering pedagogies to sustain engagement and positive course ratings in digital learning environments.