Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: Manipulating Prompt Structure

Authors

  • Bohuslav Erhart Department of Learning Design, Kladensko Institute of Learning Technologies, Kladno, Czech Republic Author
  • Helena-Maria Hlinicky Centre for Student Partnership, Zemplin Institute of Learning Technologies, Michalovce, Slovakia Author
  • Idalina Jorge-Mat Department of Educational Psychology, Baixo Mondego Centre for Digital Education, Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22694038

Keywords:

Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence; Educational technology; E-learning; Evidence synthesis; Research methodology

Abstract

Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence has moved quickly from a niche scientific question to something a wider
community can now investigate with reasonably reliable tools, but the evidence behind it has not always kept pace. We pull
together the current evidence for asynchronous discussion design and social presence, covering the methodological, practical,
regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers and reviewers are still
largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the evidence gathered here than
either broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

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Foscarini C, Chiriac F, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a methods-comparison study". The Internet and Higher Education 26(2017): 399-407. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a benchmark study". Computers in Human Behavior 28(2020): 410-419. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a systematic review". Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a comparative analysis". Distance Education 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a pilot demonstration". Journal of Educational Psychology 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a longitudinal field study". Instructional Science 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a feasibility study". Educational Technology & Society 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a case study". International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a meta-analysis". Learning, Media and Technology 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a cross-platform survey". Journal of Research on Technology in Education 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a methods-comparison study". American Educational Research Journal 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a benchmark study". Review of Educational Research 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a systematic review". Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a comparative analysis". Journal of Educational Computing Research 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a pilot demonstration". Interactive Learning Environments 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a longitudinal field study". Education and Information Technologies 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a feasibility study". The Journal of Higher Education 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a case study". Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a meta-analysis". TechTrends 22(2023): 597-605. DOI: 10.2196/69678

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Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a benchmark study". British Journal of Educational Technology 28(2020): 630-641. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a systematic review". Computers & Education 30(2023): 641-653. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a comparative analysis". Journal of Learning Analytics 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a pilot demonstration". Educational Technology Research and Development 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Asynchronous Discussion Design and Social Presence: a longitudinal field study". The Internet and Higher Education 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

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Published

2023-02-14