The relationship between pricing and learning behavior is an important topic in research on massive open online courses (MOOCs). We report on two case studies where cohorts of learners were offered coupons for free certificates to explore how price reductions might influence behavior in MOOC-based online learning settings. In Case Study 1, we compare participation and certification rates between courses with and without free-certificate coupons. In the courses with a free-certificate track, participants signed up for the verified-certificate track at higher rates, and completion rates among verified students were higher than in the paid-certificate track courses. In Case Study 2, we compare learner behavior within the same courses by whether they received access to a free-certificate track. Access to free certificates was associated with lower certification rates, but overall, certification rates remained high, particularly among those who viewed the courses. These findings suggest that some incentives, other than simply the cost of paying for a verified-certificate track, may motivate learners to complete MOOCs.

中文翻译：

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使用免费证书优惠券研究在线课程中的学习者行为：两个案例研究的结果

定价与学习行为之间的关系是大规模开放在线课程（MOOC）研究中的重要主题。我们报告了两个案例研究，其中向学习者群体提供了免费证书优惠券，以探讨降价如何影响基于MOOC的在线学习环境中的行为。在案例研究1中，我们比较了有和没有免费证书优惠券的课程之间的参与率和认证率。在具有免费证书课程的课程中，参与者以较高的比率签约了经过认证的证书课程，并且经过认证的学生的结业率高于有偿证书的课程。在案例研究2中，我们根据学习者在同一门课程中的行为是否获得了免费证书通道进行比较。获得免费证书与较低的认证率有关，但总体而言，认证率仍然很高，尤其是那些观看课程的人。这些发现表明，除了简单地支付经过验证的证书的费用以外，还有一些激励措施可能会激发学习者完成MOOC。