Guidelines of discussion board prompts in higher education: A scoping review protocol

Q1 Social Sciences

International journal of educational research open Pub Date : 2025-04-22 DOI:10.1016/j.ijedro.2025.100470

Denise R. Gehring , Sharon K. Titus , Tasha M. Bleistein , Hong Li

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Abstract

Background & Aim

Discussion boards are a key component of online courses in higher education. Educators use this collaborative environment to encourage social and intellectual interactions, develop reasoning and presentation skills, and facilitate deeper learning. Research has been conducted on student participation and interaction in online discussions, yet little is known about how to create and categorize effective prompts. This planned scoping review aims to identify in the existing literature the taxonomies and standardization guidelines of discussion board prompts in higher education.

Methods

This protocol (PRISMA-P) establishes the study parameters for the planned scoping review, conducted from January 2025 through June 2025. The team will conduct a thorough scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, analyzing literature from 13 databases that are published between January 2005 and March 2025. The team will report the results and data using the PRISMA-ScR checklist, PRISMA 2020 flow diagram, and visual aids to enhance rigor. Moreover, thematic analysis will be utilized to identify and synthesize recurring themes and gaps in the literature.

Results

The final scoping review will outline the search process and results, the study selection and synthesis process, and data analysis and presentation of findings.

Conclusion

The planned review aims to provide key insights into how educators can effectively develop and categorize discussion board prompts, pinpointing gaps within the literature and providing direction for future research.