Does Virtual Exchange Enhance Social Capital? An Experimental Study among UAE and USA Students

• In Event: Perspectives on Civic & Participatory Education

Abstract

Despite the growing youth population globally and the post-pandemic world, there is a dearth of research exploring the influence of online instruction on students' interpersonal trust and tolerance. Using a field experiment conducted among one hundred political science and international studies students in the UAE and USA, we investigate the impact of participation in a collaborative online Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project shapes bonding and bridging social capital. Within the UAE student population, sections were randomly assigned to a collaboration with their own classmates or, via the Internet, USA-based students. After participating in the online exchange, UAE-based students developed greater interpersonal trust of others from their society (i.e., bonding capital) but were less likely to state that they would like to develop friendships with people from the USA (i.e., bridging capital). US-based students were more likely to agree that citizens should be informed of international issues following the exchange. Our research adds to the existing literature on the drivers of social capital and offers insights to inform best practices regarding the use of online tools to enhance learning outcomes and foster cooperative relationships between the USA and MENA societies.

Author

• Lindsay J. Benstead, Portland State University