Group informatics: A methodological approach and ontology for sociotechnical group research

Abstract

We present a methodological approach, called Group Informatics, for understanding the social connections that are created between members of technologically mediated groups. Our methodological approach supports focused thinking about how online groups differ from each other, and diverge from their face-to-face counterparts. Group Informatics is grounded in 5 years of empirical studies of technologically mediated groups in online learning, software engineering, online political discourse, crisis informatics, and other domains. We describe the Group Informatics model and the related, 2-phase methodological approach in detail. Phase one of the methodological approach centers on a set of guiding research questions aimed at directing the application of Group Informatics to new corpora of integrated electronic trace data and qualitative research data. Phase 2 of the methodological approach is a systematic set of steps for transforming electronic trace data into weighted social networks.

Analyzing the flow of knowledge in computer mediated teams

“…group informatics [11]). TEvA is a tool in this family, intended to serve as an imaging device for a socio-technical organism.…”

Participation-based student final performance prediction model through interpretable Genetic Programming: Integrating learning analytics, educational data mining and theory

“…It is a difficult task not only because factors involved can be overwhelming but also because lack of semantic background for teachers to interpret the model developed (Goggins, Laffey, & Galyen, 2009;Gress, Fior, Hadwin, & Winne, 2010). Most previously developed models identified at-risk students, but were unable to predict student performance in a more granular level.…”

“…This small-group focused learning is often supported by virtual, physical and psychological objects, tools and methods. Therefore, in order to predict students' performance in the technologically mediated Virtual Math Teams with Geogebra (VMTwG) environment, systematically measuring student participation in the environment through a theoretically informed model can bridge computationally focused approaches like EDM and emergent approaches represented by learning analytics (Goggins & Dyke, 2013;Goggins, Laffey, Amelung, & Gallagher, 2010;Goggins, Mascaro, & Valetto, 2013b;Goggins, Valetto, Mascaro, & Blincoe, 2013c;Xing, Wadholm, & Goggins, in press;Xing et al, 2014aXing et al, , 2014b.…”

Modeling Distributed Collaboration on Github

“…We analyzed the interaction data mined using GitMiner and the interview data reflexively, following the systematic approach of Group Informatics [2]. Our comparative analysis of interview transcripts guided our connection of Gronn's theory of DL with specific aggregations of GitMiner data: (1) spontaneous collaboration is examined as receptivity to new contributors, (2) intuitive working relationships are examined as gaining access and (3) provide measures which group projects in the spectrum of DL.…”