The Relationship of Social Presence and Interaction in Online Classes

TLDR

The study investigates social presence in online learning environments. The study examined social‑presence dimensions through quantitative and qualitative analyses. The study identified three key dimensions—social context, online communication, and interactivity—as well as privacy as a comfort factor, showing that higher social presence boosts interaction and can be enhanced by tailoring learner characteristics, selecting appropriate communication media, and incorporating instructional design elements.

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this research was to study social presence in the online learning environment. Dimensions of social presence were examined using quantitative and qualitative methods. Three dimensions of social presence-social context, online communication, and interactivity-emerged as important elements in establishing a sense of community among online learners. The privacy factor was also an important element in the level of comfort for students online. An increase in the level of online interaction occurs with an improved level of social presence. This can be fostered by considering characteristics of the learners, by selecting the appropriate computer-mediated communication medium, and by applying appropriate instructional elements to course design.