Momentum in online discussions: the effect of social presence on motivation for participation

Abstract

Compared to earlier forms of distance education online education is characterised by increased opportunities for productive interaction of learners with content, instructors and peers. Although online courses typically include discussion spaces for interaction, relatively little has been published about what motivates students to participate in the discussions. This study investigated the effect of social presence on motivation for student participation. Data were collected from 60 students over a semester using a sequential exploratory design. A significant relationship was found between social presence and motivation but most students reported a decline in perceived social presence during the semester. The findings suggest actions that might be taken by facilitators of online courses to enhance student motivation for participation in course discussions.