--- abstract: "In the present study, data was triangulated and two methods of data analysis were used. Qualitative analysis was undertaken of free-text data from students’ reflective essaysto extract socially-related themes. Heuristic evaluation was conducted by expert evaluators, who investigated forum contributions and discourse in line with contemporary learning theory and considered the social\r\nculture of participation. Findings of the qualitative analysis of students’ perceptions and results of the\r\nheuristic evaluation of forum participation confirmed each other, indicating a warm social climate and a conducive, well-facilitated environment that supported individual styles of participation. It fostered interpersonal relationships between distance learners, as well as study-related benefits enhanced by peer teaching and insights acquired in a culture of social negotiation. The environment was effectively moderated, while supporting student-initiative.\r\n" altloc: [] chapter: ~ commentary: ~ commref: ~ confdates: ~ conference: ~ confloc: ~ contact_email: ~ creators_id: - haarendt@libimseti.cz - iva2158534@maricopa.edu - lin.zhu@ome.ac.cn creators_name: - family: Arendt given: Hannah honourific: Dr lineage: '' - family: Matic given: Ivan honourific: Dr lineage: '' - family: Zhu given: Lin honourific: Dr lineage: '' date: 2012-07-05 date_type: submitted datestamp: 2012-11-09 19:44:14 department: ~ dir: disk0/00/00/82/81 edit_lock_since: ~ edit_lock_until: 0 edit_lock_user: ~ editors_id: [] editors_name: [] eprint_status: archive eprintid: 8281 fileinfo: /style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png;/8281/1/Qualitative%20analysis%20of%20academic%20group%20and%20discussion%20forum%20on%20Facebook.pdf full_text_status: public importid: ~ institution: ~ isbn: ~ ispublished: ~ issn: ~ item_issues_comment: [] item_issues_count: ~ item_issues_description: [] item_issues_id: [] item_issues_reported_by: [] item_issues_resolved_by: [] item_issues_status: [] item_issues_timestamp: [] item_issues_type: [] keywords: 'E-learning, evaluation, Facebook group, online discussion forums, qualitative analysis.' lastmod: 2012-11-09 19:44:14 latitude: ~ longitude: ~ metadata_visibility: show note: ~ number: ~ pagerange: ~ pubdom: TRUE publication: ~ publisher: ~ refereed: TRUE referencetext: ~ relation_type: [] relation_uri: [] reportno: ~ rev_number: 8 series: ~ source: ~ status_changed: 2012-11-09 19:44:14 subjects: - comp-sci-art-intel succeeds: ~ suggestions: ~ sword_depositor: ~ sword_slug: ~ thesistype: ~ title: Qualitative analysis of academic group and discussion forum on Facebook type: preprint userid: 17365 volume: ~