A Systematic Review of Social Presence: The Research Protocol
Abstract: The purpose of this round table presentation is to report the research protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the construct social presence. Protocols for systematic reviews and meta-analysis are desirable as they offer a more knowledgeable and transparent conceptualization of a study so that the methods can be appraised and, if needed, suggestions for modifications provided. The focused purpose of the research project outlined in the protocol is to systematically review and statistically summarize, thru meta-analysis (i.e., the study of studies), the research literature on social presence within higher education. The objectives of the systematic review are i) to determine the holistic effects that social presence has on student learning and student satisfaction outcomes across studies and ii) what study characteristics (i.e., course design elements, instructor behaviors', and online learning environment) explain and moderate the variability in the results. The study protocol will outline the aims, objectives, and methods used to conduct the study and to collect and analyze the data. The publication of the research protocol is an accountable process that mitigates research duplication while allowing for a more informed understanding of the prospective program of research.
Presider: Sarah Prestridge, Griffith University