AECT 2015 - Defining social presence

In search of a better understanding of social presenceAn investigation into how researchers define social presence

Patrick LowenthalBoise State University

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

A Bit about MeAssistant Professor @ Boise State

educatorresearcher designer developer


BACKGROUND

Social Presence Theory

• Communications Studies Group at the University College in London in the 1970s

• Short, J.A., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The social psychology of telecommunications. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

4

Early Definition

Social presence is the degree of

salience (i.e., quality or state of

being there) between two

communicators using a

communication medium.

5

It’s a quality of a communication medium.

Some media (e.g., video) have higher social presence than other media (e.g., audio)

Media w/ high social presence are sociable, warm, & personal; media w/ low social presence are as less personal.

What does this mean?










Less Social Presence More Social Presence


Focused on 1-on-1


1980’s & CMCCuelessness Theory developed by Rutter (1984, 1987)

Media Richness Theory developed by Daft & Lengel (1984, 1986; Daft, Lengel, & Trevino, 1987)


Phases of Research

popular Perspective


Problem“Researchers of social presence cannot agree upon a single definition of social presence (Biocca & Harms, 7 2002; Biocca, Harms, & Burgoon, 2003; Rettie, 2003; Lane, 2011; Tu, 2002)

Instead, researchers continue to redefine social presence (Lowenthal, 2010; Picciano, 2002)”


Examples• “the ability of learners to project themselves socially and

emotionally as well as their ability to perceive other learners as “real people””(Boston et al.)

• “the degree to which participants in computer-mediated communication feel affectively connected one to another… (Swan, Garrison, & Richardson, 2009).”


Garrison“the ability of participants to identify with the community (e.g., course of study), communicate purposefully in a trusting environment, and develop inter-personal relationships by way of projecting their individual personalities” (Garrison, 2009, p. 352).

“the ability of participants in the Community of Inquiry to project their personal characteristics into the community, thereby presenting themselves to the other participants as ``real people.'’ (Garrison et al., 1999)


Method• Find top 25 cited articles• Identify how authors defined social

presence• Code definitions• Themes / trends


Continuum


Common Elements

BelongingReal There Connection


Real / There"the degree to which a person is perceived as "real" in mediated communication” (Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997)


Connection"the degree of feeling, perception and reaction of being connected on CMC to another intellectual entity” (Tu,2002)


Belonging• “a student's sense of being in and

belonging in a course and the ability to interact with other students and an instructor” (Picciano, 2002)


Common Elements

BelongingReal There Connection

Pathway to Community

Interaction Social Presence

Collaboration Community

@CONTACT ME

Patrick [email protected]

Education

AECT 2015 - Defining social presence