Time is precious: why process analysis is essential for CSCL (and can also help to bridge between experimental and descriptive methods)

  • Authors:
  • Peter Reimann

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Sydney, Research Centre for Computer-supported Learning and Cognition, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  • Venue:
  • CSCL'07 Proceedings of the 8th iternational conference on Computer supported collaborative learning
  • Year:
  • 2007

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Although process is a key characteristic of the core concepts of CSCL--interaction, communication, learning, knowledge building, technology use--, and although CSCL researchers have privileged access to process data, the theoretical constructs and methods employed in research practice frequently neglect to make full use of information relating to time and order. This is particularly problematic when collaboration and learning processes are studied in groups that work together over weeks, and months, as is increasingly the case. The quantitative method dominant in the social and learning sciences--variable-centered variance theory--is of limited value, so we argue, for studying change on longer time scales. We introduce event-centered process analysis as a more generally applicable approach, not only for quantitative analysis, but also for providing closer links between qualitative and quantitative research methods. We conclude with suggestions on how nomothetic, idiographic, and design-oriented research interests can become better integrated in CSCL.