Assessing e-moderation behavior from synchronous discussion protocols with a multi-dimensional methodology

The role of the human instructor in online learning has received increasingly more attention in the e-learning literature. In the present paper we focus on the particular case of human moderation of peer-to-peer debates in educational settings. A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to identify...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers in human behavior 2011, Vol.27 (1), p.449-458
Main Author: Asterhan, Christa S.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Computer-mediated communication
Distance education
E-moderation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Human behavior
Instructors
Methodology
Moderation styles
Moderators
Multi-dimensional methodology
On-line systems
Peer discussions
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social psychology
Synchronous
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Summary:The role of the human instructor in online learning has received increasingly more attention in the e-learning literature. In the present paper we focus on the particular case of human moderation of peer-to-peer debates in educational settings. A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to identify and characterize different moderation styles in such settings. The method triangulates superficial and qualitative features of both moderation actions as well as the discussion as a whole. The application of this methodology to a sample of synchronous group discussions moderated by assigned peer moderators yielded five distinctively different moderation styles: A scaffolding, an orchestrating, an authoritative, an observing and a participative style. Implications and limitations of the coding methodology are discussed, as well as future directions for research and methodology development.
ISSN:0747-5632
1873-7692
DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2010.09.008