Using Social Learning Analytic Methods to Examine Social Construction of Knowledge in Online Discussions

Analyzing how participants learn from each other during online forums on discussion boards or social media platforms is often challenging. One of the predominant methods of analyzing such learning is through qualitative content analysis or interaction analysis. The Interaction Analysis Model (IAM), developed by Gunawardena, Lowe and Anderson which qualitatively examines five levels of social construction of knowledge in online discussions has gained traction among researchers as a viable model for assessing how participants learn from each other. However, analyzing large amounts of textual data using this model can be time consuming. Therefore, this study explores how a social learning analytic method based on text analysis can be used to quantitatively analyze the five levels of knowledge construction stipulated in the IAM. Automating the analysis process will enable researchers and instructors to develop a snapshot of the process of social construction of knowledge in online discussions, and thereby make improvements to discussions to enhance collaborative learning as it unfolds.