Network analysis of gratitude messages in the learning community
- Autores: Masami Yoshida
- Localización: International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, ISSN 2365-9440, Nº. 19, 2022
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
In pedagogical practice, gratitude is recognised not as an emotion, but as an approach to learning. This study introduced gratitude messages into the academic online communication of university students and specifcally examined the community in which students shared their messages with gratitude. This study examined the tendency of message connections and how gratitude messages prompted replies. To elucidate their connections, exponential random graph models (ERGMs) were used. A postevent questionnaire to evaluate gratitude experiences was also administered. Results revealed that 77.3% of the 172 connected messages from 123 students involved gratitude. When the post-event questionnaire results were examined using an ERGM, the score efects on increasing message connections were found not to be signifcant. The most prominent indication was a higher level of signifcant propensities to make mutual connections. The homophily of the message content was found to have a signifcant propensity to increase connections. The ERGM results and a review of messages revealed that students expressed gratitude for being both benefactors and benefciaries of gratitude messages, which confrmed their prosocial behaviour.
