Martin Weller, a professor of educational technology at the Open University in the United Kingdom, highlights some research findings on factors influencing MOOC completion rates. His colleagues found that a significant negative correlation between enrolment numbers and completion rates, “i.e. the more people who enrol then the lower the percentage who complete.” Additionally, there was also a significant negative correlation between number of active users and the percentage who complete. They also found a negative correlation over time with enrolments indicating that enrolment numbers on individual MOOCs have declined over time. They did find a positive correlation between a university’s reputation and enrolments but no correlation between completion rates and reputation.
http://nogoodreason.typepad.co.uk/no_good_reason/2013/12/completion-data-for-moocs.html