ERIC Number: EJ742831
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Oct
Pages: 14
Abstractor: Author
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ISSN: ISSN-0266-4909
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"I Totally Agree with You": Gender Interactions in Educational Online Discussion Groups
Guiller, J.; Durndell, A.
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, v22 n5 p368-381 Oct 2006
This paper discusses findings from an extensive project examining gender, language and computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the context of undergraduate psychology courses. The contributions of 197 introductory psychology students (148 females, 49 males) participating in asynchronous CMC as part of their course were collated and coded for their language content using a qualitative content analysis procedure in Atlas.ti 4.2. Nearly 700 postings were characterised according to gender on the basis of seven categories relating to language and communication style--attenuated, authoritative, traditional male and female language features, mixed language, positive socioemotional and negative socioemotional. Gender interactions were analysed in terms of positive and negative socioemotional content, focusing on explicit markers of agreement and disagreement. Gender-related patterns in language use and interaction style were found. Females were more likely than males to make attenuated contributions and express agreement, whereas males were more likely than females to make authoritative contributions and express disagreement. These results are discussed in terms of the implications for the increasing use of CMC in education.
Descriptors: Gender Differences, Interaction, Computer Mediated Communication, Psychology, College Curriculum, Introductory Courses, Content Analysis, Language Styles, Language Patterns, Undergraduate Students, Discussion Groups, Comparative Analysis, Language Usage, Gender Issues
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
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Language: English
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