How Students’ Emotion and Motivation Changes After Viewing Dashboards with Varied Social Comparison Group: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The need to personalize learning analytics dashboards (LADs) is getting more recognized in learning analytics research community. In order to study the impact of these dashboards on learners, various types of prototypes have been designed and deployed in different settings. Applying Weiner’s attribution theory, our goal in this study was to understand the effect of dashboard information content on learners. We wanted to understand how elements of assignment grade, time spent on an assignment, assignment view, and proficiency in the dashboard affect students’ attribution of achievement and motivation for future work. We designed a qualitative study in which we analyzed participants’ responses and indicated behavioural changes after viewing the dashboard. Through in-depth interviews, we aimed to understand students’ interpretations of the designed dashboard, and to what extent social comparison impacts their judgments of learning. Students used multiple dimensions to attribute their success or failure to their ability and effort. Our results indicate that to maximize the benefits of dashboards as a vehicle for motivating change in students learning, the dashboard should promote effort in both personal and social comparison capacities.