Measuring social presence in online-based learning: An exploratory path analysis using log data and social network analysis

Abstract

Social presence is a key element in collaborative/cooperative learning. In online learning environments, it is challenging to measure the current state of social presence. This work aims to identify measures of social presence.

We manually coded 3546 students' postings (n = 49 students). We selected measures from social network analysis and indices derived from log data as potential indicators. We conducted an exploratory path analysis to define which indicators appropriately describe social presence.

The size of the individual egocentric student's network (path coefficient = −0.56**) and constraint (path coefficient = −0.51**), as well as the number of forums in which students were active (path coefficient = 0.49**) and the number of solved learning activities (path coefficient = −0.59**) were indicators of the level of social presence.

We were able to identify four indicators for social presence in online-based courses readily available within routine data from learning management systems. We will focus now on how social presence in an ongoing course develops.