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ABSTRACT
The present investigation examines the multidimensional relationships among several critical components in online collaborative learning, including group trust, communication media, and interactivity. Four hundred eleven university students from 103 groups in the United States responded survey items on online collaboration, interactivity, communication media, and group trust. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the relationships among these variables. Results revealed that trust among group members had a positive and powerful influence on online collaboration. Results further revealed that the influence of group trust on online collaboration was mediated by communication media and the interactivity among group members. These findings are discussed in the context of existing literature in the field. Practical implications and directions for future investigation are provided.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr. Jianxia Du is the Zijiang Chair Professor in Faculty of Education at East China Normal University, China. Her research interests include the effects of social and cultural dimensions on educational technology, such as race, gender and class, issues and designing and developing computer-supported collaborative learning environments.
Dr. Chuang Wang is Professor of Educational Research at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is also the Director of the Ph.D. program of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. His expertise includes educational research design, statistical data analyses, and program evaluation. He has published 7 books, 18 book chapters, and 76 peer-reviewed journal articles. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the New Waves – Educational Research and Development Journal. He also served as the President of the Chinese American Educational Research and Development Association (2008–2010). Currently, he is the Editor of Journal of Applied Educational and Policy Research.
Dr. Mingming Zhou is an Assistant professor in Faculty of Education at University of Macau. Her research focuses on technology use for academic purposes, including how students search information online for learning, how they monitor and control these processes. She is also dedicated to developing innovative research methods for researching self-regulated learning using technology.
Dr. Jianzhong Xu is a professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Foundations at Mississippi State University, USA. His research focuses on teaching and learning in online learning environments (e.g., online groupwork time management), in the school and home setting (e.g., self-regulation of homework behavior), in home–school relationships, and in partnerships with families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Dr. Xitao Fan is the Presidential Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), China. Prior to his current positions, he served in University of Macau, China (Chair Professor, Dean of Faculty of Education, the interim Vice Rector for Academic Affairs), in University of Virginia, USA (associate professor, full professor, and endowed chair professor), and in Utah State University, USA (assistant and associate professor). His research interests cover applied quantitative methods, educational and psychological measurement, and inter-disciplinary research. His research has been widely cited by scholars internationally.
Ms. Saosan Lei is currently a doctoral student in Faculty of Education at University of Macau. Her research areas focus on multitasking in online learning settings.