Students’ Isolation Challenges in Blended EFL Learning During COVID-19: How Can Social Presence and Interaction Help Develop Sense of Community?

Figures & data

Figure 1 The proposed theoretical model.

Table 1 Mean Scores and Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficients

	Mean	SD	Reliability
Social presence	3.80	0.63	0.89
Affective expression	3.79	0.75	0.87
Open communication	3.83	0.77	0.86
Group cohesion	3.78	0.77	0.83
Interaction	3.91	0.64	0.91
Learner–learner	3.92	0.77	0.88
Learner–instructor	3.92	0.73	0.88
Learner–content	3.89	0.82	0.91
Sense of community	4.02	0.61	0.91
Connectedness	4.05	0.70	0.90
Learning	3.99	0.67	0.90

Table 2 Fit Indices for the Interaction Scale

	X^2/DF	RMSEA	CFI	IFI	TLI
Standard fit	<3	<0.08	>0.90	>0.90	>0.90
The interaction model	2.412	0.077	0.961	0.962	0.950

Table 3 Fit Indices for the Sense of Community Scale

	X^2/DF	RMSEA	CFI	IFI	TLI
Standard fit	<3	<0.08	>0.90	>0.90	>0.90
The model	2.561	0.081	0.964	0.964	0.952

Figure 2 Confirmatory factor analysis of the interaction scale.

Figure 3 Confirmatory factor analysis of the sense of community scale.

Table 4 Correlations of Social Presence, Interaction and Sense of Community

Subscale	AE	OC	GC	LL	LI	LC	C	L
Affective expression (AE)	1
Open communication (OC)	0.585**	1
Group cohesion (GC)	0.519**	0.448**	1
Learner–learner (LL)	0.371**	0.239**	0.207**	1
Learner–instructor (LI)	0.198**	0.124	0.215**	0.433**	1
Learner–content (LC)	0.302**	0.170**	0.274**	0.517**	0.600**	1
Connectedness (C)	0.195**	0.225**	0.111	0.324**	0.235**	0.300**	1
Learning (L)	0.192**	0.216**	0.237**	0.207**	0.184**	0.258**	0.596**	1
Variables	SP	IN	SoC
SP	(0.788)
IN	0.449**	(0.767)
SoC	0.360**	0.419**	(0.808)

Notes: Diagonal in parentheses: square root of average variance. **p < 0.01.

Abbreviations: N, 237; SP, social presence; IN, interaction; SoC, sense of community.

Table 5 Fit Indices for the Present Model

	X^2/DF	RMSEA	CFI	IFI	TLI
Standard fit	<3	<0.08	>0.90	>0.90	>0.90
The present model	1.999	0.065	0.969	0.969	0.949

Figure 4 The SEM model (standardized).

Table 6 The Full Mediation Model

	Effect	p value	BootLLCI	BootULCI	Result
Total effect (without the mediation variable)
H1: SP → SoC	0.325	0.001	0.151	0.501	Significant
Direct effect
SP → SoC	0.162	0.148	−0.057	0.384	Not significant
H2: SP → IN	0.436	0.001	0.234	0.618	Significant
H3: IN → SoC	0.376	0.002	0.145	0.554	Significant
Indirect effect
H4:SP → IN → SoC	0.164	0.001	0.072	0.311	Significant

Note: N=237.

Abbreviations: SP, social presence; IN, interaction; SoC, sense of community.