Dynamics of complex systems
Evaluating Collaborative Learning Processes
CRIWG '02 Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Groupware: Design, Implementation and Use
Human Problem Solving
CSCL '05 Proceedings of th 2005 conference on Computer support for collaborative learning: learning 2005: the next 10 years!
Emergence of learning in computer-supported, large-scale collective dynamics: a research agenda
CSCL'07 Proceedings of the 8th iternational conference on Computer supported collaborative learning
CSCL'07 Proceedings of the 8th iternational conference on Computer supported collaborative learning
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Understanding how complex group discussions converge presents a major challenge for collaborative problem-solving research (Fischer & Mandl, 2005). From a complex systems perspective, convergence in group discussions is an emergent behavior arising from the transactional interactions between group members. Leveraging on the concepts of emergent simplicity and emergent complexity (Bar-Yam, 2003), a set of theoretically-sound yet simple rules was hypothesized: Interactions between group members were conceptualized as goal-seeking adaptations that either help the group move towards or away from its goal, or maintain its status quo. Operationalizing this movement as a Markov walk, we present quantitative and qualitative findings from a study of online problem-solving groups. Findings suggest high (low) quality contributions have a greater positive (negative) impact on convergence when they come earlier in a discussion than later. Significantly, convergence analysis was able to predict a group's performance based on what happened in the first 30--40% of its discussion.