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How do we know what is happening online?: a mixed methods approach to analysing online activity
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Charalampidi, Marina and Hammond, Michael (2016) How do we know what is happening online?: a mixed methods approach to analysing online activity. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 13 (4). pp. 274-288. doi:10.1108/ITSE-09-2016-0032 ISSN 1741-5659 .
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ITSE-09-2016-0032
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the process of analysing online discussion and to argue for the merits of mixed methods. Much research of online participation and e-learning has been either message focused or person focused. The former covers methodologies such as content and discourse analysis, the latter interviewing and surveys. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in the context of a study of an online social educational network for gifted students. The design of this study included the use of content analysis, visualisation diagrams, interviews and questionnaire survey in order to understand the nature of online discussion and the experience of taking part. It was found that the message focused analysis provided insight into participation and interaction patterns whereas the surveys and interviews enabled access to members’ preferences and attitudes. The contribution of the paper is to argue for a mixed approach in which different types of data can be compared and contrasted. While the use of mixed methods in social research in general has long been suggested, its adoption in the field of online learning is yet to be widely established, possibly due to its time consuming and demanding nature. Despite these constraints, a mixed methods approach is advocated as it allows for a comprehensive picture of the use of the network and the experience of online participation.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4050 Electronic information resources |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Education Studies (2013- ) | ||||||
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Electronic discussion groups , Mixed methods research | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Interactive Technology and Smart Education | ||||||
| Publisher: | Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1741-5659 | ||||||
| Official Date: | 21 November 2016 | ||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 13 | ||||||
| Number: | 4 | ||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 274-288 | ||||||
| DOI: | 10.1108/ITSE-09-2016-0032 | ||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
| Date of first compliant deposit: | 24 October 2016 | ||||||
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 9 April 2019 |
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