Understanding of Undergraduate Students’ Interactions in Asynchronous Online Discussions: Social Network Analysis

• In Event: Collaboration in Online Learning

Abstract

This exploratory study examined the dynamics of undergraduate students’ interactions in asynchronous online discussions. The study used Social Network Analysis (SNA) to examine how the design of asynchronous online discussions shaped students’ group interactions in asynchronous online discussions based on the network measures. participation (Anderson et al., 2001). In addition, the study also examined the type of interaction patterns that emerged based on the type of questions (factual, conceptual, or procedural). The findings revealed that factual prompts created low interactions among students while conceptual prompts impacted larger group formation at the course level. Procedural prompts enhanced forming groupings by providing discussions in smaller groups. Instructors and instructional designers will benefit from these study findings to design and facilitate more interactive discussions.

Authors

• Larisa A. Olesova, University of Florida

• Daniela Castellanos-Reyes, North Carolina State University

• Hajeen Choi, Bowling Green State University

• Ayesha Sadaf, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Stacy Gant, University of Florida

• Lismarys Cabrales, University of Florida