Dialogue Time: Synchronous versus Asynchronous Online Discussions
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| Title: | Dialogue Time: Synchronous versus Asynchronous Online Discussions |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Glenn Gordon Smith (ORCID |
| Source: | Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. 2026 27(1):12-30. |
| Availability: | Anadolu University. Office of the Rector, Eskisehir, 26470, Turkey. Tel: +90-222-335-34-53; Fax: +90-222-335-34-86; e-mail: rektor@anadolu.edu.tr; e-mail: TOJDE@anadolu.edu.tr; Web site: http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Library Science, Masters Programs, Graduate Students, Computer Mediated Communication, Asynchronous Communication, Synchronous Communication, Dialogs (Language), Language Usage, Discussion Groups, Interpersonal Communication |
| ISSN: | 1302-6488 |
| Abstract: | Prior research compared synchronous versus asynchronous online discussions typically using different formats (linear SMS-chat for synchronous versus threaded for asynchronous) and focused on individual posts. We compared both using the same linear chat format and analyzed entire discussions, seeking to resolve previous conflicting results. We examined uptake and dialogic spells (conversations) in linear chat discussions within web-based eBooks. In master's courses, nine synchronous and nine asynchronous discussions were compared using mixed methods: qualitative coding, statistical analysis, and discourse analysis. The results showed that synchronous discussions had more posts, while asynchronous had longer posts. Synchronous discussions featured longer dialogic spells, more conversational tangles, and frequent repair of these tangles. Synchronous chats were more social, coherent, and collaborative; asynchronous discussions were more formal with more complex individual postings. We propose that instructors could leverage synchronous online discussions to foster social cohesion, enhance student uptake, and support dialogic discourse. Conversely, if instructors aim to achieve more uptake than in threaded discussions, while encouraging more formal elaboration of individual positions in response to discussion questions, asynchronous linear discussions may prove effective. Synchronous online discussions foster greater social cohesion through social exchanges which encourage social bonding and promote collaborative knowledge building. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1497688 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Dialogue Time: Synchronous versus Asynchronous Online Discussions – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Glenn+Gordon+Smith%22">Glenn Gordon Smith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2426-1013">0000-0003-2426-1013</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michael+B%2E+Sherry%22">Michael B. Sherry</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6035-3452">0000-0002-6035-3452</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stephen+Schilling%22">Stephen Schilling</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8911-9451">0009-0000-8911-9451</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Metin+Besalti%22">Metin Besalti</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5569-0027">0000-0001-5569-0027</externalLink>) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Turkish+Online+Journal+of+Distance+Education%22"><i>Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 27(1):12-30. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Anadolu University. Office of the Rector, Eskisehir, 26470, Turkey. Tel: +90-222-335-34-53; Fax: +90-222-335-34-86; e-mail: rektor@anadolu.edu.tr; e-mail: TOJDE@anadolu.edu.tr; Web site: http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 19 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+Science%22">Library Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Masters+Programs%22">Masters Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Mediated+Communication%22">Computer Mediated Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asynchronous+Communication%22">Asynchronous Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Synchronous+Communication%22">Synchronous Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialogs+%28Language%29%22">Dialogs (Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discussion+Groups%22">Discussion Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Communication%22">Interpersonal Communication</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 1302-6488 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Prior research compared synchronous versus asynchronous online discussions typically using different formats (linear SMS-chat for synchronous versus threaded for asynchronous) and focused on individual posts. We compared both using the same linear chat format and analyzed entire discussions, seeking to resolve previous conflicting results. We examined uptake and dialogic spells (conversations) in linear chat discussions within web-based eBooks. In master's courses, nine synchronous and nine asynchronous discussions were compared using mixed methods: qualitative coding, statistical analysis, and discourse analysis. The results showed that synchronous discussions had more posts, while asynchronous had longer posts. Synchronous discussions featured longer dialogic spells, more conversational tangles, and frequent repair of these tangles. Synchronous chats were more social, coherent, and collaborative; asynchronous discussions were more formal with more complex individual postings. We propose that instructors could leverage synchronous online discussions to foster social cohesion, enhance student uptake, and support dialogic discourse. Conversely, if instructors aim to achieve more uptake than in threaded discussions, while encouraging more formal elaboration of individual positions in response to discussion questions, asynchronous linear discussions may prove effective. Synchronous online discussions foster greater social cohesion through social exchanges which encourage social bonding and promote collaborative knowledge building. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1497688 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 12 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Library Science Type: general – SubjectFull: Masters Programs Type: general – SubjectFull: Graduate Students Type: general – SubjectFull: Computer Mediated Communication Type: general – SubjectFull: Asynchronous Communication Type: general – SubjectFull: Synchronous Communication Type: general – SubjectFull: Dialogs (Language) Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Usage Type: general – SubjectFull: Discussion Groups Type: general – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Communication Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Dialogue Time: Synchronous versus Asynchronous Online Discussions Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Glenn Gordon Smith – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Michael B. Sherry – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stephen Schilling – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Metin Besalti IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-electronic Value: 1302-6488 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 27 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
