IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jomega/v36y2008i2p252-266.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Semantic network representation of computer-mediated discussions: Conceptual facilitation form and knowledge acquisition

Author

Listed:
  • Khalifa, Mohamed
  • Liu, Vanessa

Abstract

Prior research on computer-mediated discussions examined their effects on knowledge acquisition without considering the role of the discussion representation. In this study, we investigate and compare the effect of semantic network discussion representations on knowledge acquisition to that of the threaded representations featured in most traditional discussion forums. Furthermore, we identify, define and operationalize a new, i.e., conceptual facilitation (validation of the conceptual organization of the discussion), assessing its role in knowledge acquisition at different levels of restrictiveness. The empirical results of a field experiment indicate that semantic network discussion representations enable the acquisition of more complex and better-integrated knowledge structures than threaded discussion representations. Conceptual facilitation forms entailing different levels of restrictiveness are also found to play a significant role. As the level of conceptual facilitation restrictiveness decreases, knowledge acquisition improves. Our findings empirically demonstrate the importance of accounting for discussion representation as a contingency factor in explaining group discussion processes and outcomes. To practitioners, our study provides empirical evidence on the advantages of semantic networks over threaded representations as an alternative mode for computer-mediated discussion representations. We also suggest guidelines for the selection of appropriate conceptual facilitation for discussion forums intended for knowledge acquisition.

Suggested Citation

  • Khalifa, Mohamed & Liu, Vanessa, 2008. "Semantic network representation of computer-mediated discussions: Conceptual facilitation form and knowledge acquisition," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 252-266, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:36:y:2008:i:2:p:252-266
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305-0483(06)00099-5
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abualsamh, Rashad A. & Carlin, Barbara & McDaniel, Reuben R., 1990. "Problem structuring heuristics in strategic decision making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 159-174, April.
    2. Marcie J. Tyre & Eric von Hippel, 1997. "The Situated Nature of Adaptive Learning in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(1), pages 71-83, February.
    3. Robert Anson & Robert Bostrom & Bayard Wynne, 1995. "An Experiment Assessing Group Support System and Facilitator Effects on Meeting Outcomes," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(2), pages 189-208, February.
    4. Bradley C. Wheeler & Joseph S. Valacich, 1996. "Facilitation, GSS, and Training as Sources of Process Restrictiveness and Guidance for Structured Group Decision Making: An Empirical Assessment," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 7(4), pages 429-450, December.
    5. Mohamed Khalifa & RonChi-Wai Kwok & Robert Davison, 2002. "The Effects of Process and Content Facilitation Restrictiveness on GSS-Mediated Collaborative Learning," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 345-361, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chelley Vician & Gerardine DeSanctis, 2000. "The Impact of Role Training in a User-Driven Group Support System Environment," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 275-296, July.
    2. Seow, Poh-Sun, 2011. "The effects of decision aid structural restrictiveness on decision-making outcomes," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 40-56.
    3. A. Adla & P. Zarate & J.-L. Soubie, 2011. "A Proposal of Toolkit for GDSS Facilitators," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 57-77, January.
    4. Mohamed Khalifa & RonChi-Wai Kwok & Robert Davison, 2002. "The Effects of Process and Content Facilitation Restrictiveness on GSS-Mediated Collaborative Learning," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 345-361, September.
    5. Youngjin Kim & Starr Roxanne Hiltz & Murray Turoff, 2002. "Coordination Structures and System Restrictiveness in Distributed Group Support Systems," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 379-404, September.
    6. Emmanuelle Vaast & Geoff Walsham, 2009. "Trans-Situated Learning: Supporting a Network of Practice with an Information Infrastructure," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 547-564, December.
    7. Pamela J. Hinds & Diane E. Bailey, 2003. "Out of Sight, Out of Sync: Understanding Conflict in Distributed Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(6), pages 615-632, December.
    8. Yang, Chia-Hsuan & Nugent, Rebecca & Fuchs, Erica R.H., 2016. "Gains from others’ losses: Technology trajectories and the global division of firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 724-745.
    9. Burcharth, Ana Luiza Lara de Araújo & Lettl, Christopher & Ulhøi, John Parm, 2015. "Extending organizational antecedents of absorptive capacity: Organizational characteristics that encourage experimentation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 90(PA), pages 269-284.
    10. Alain Asquin & R. Moore, 2003. "Trajectories, Strategic Formulas and Contingencies : pathways to entrepreneurial success," Post-Print halshs-00688892, HAL.
    11. Anne Kokkonen & Pauli Alin, 2015. "Practice-based learning in construction projects: a literature review," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(7), pages 513-530, July.
    12. Alaric Bourgoin & Nicolas Bencherki, 2013. "The performance of authority in organizations: an example from management consulting," CSI Working Papers Series 029, Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation (CSI), Mines ParisTech.
    13. Chi-Wen Chen & Marios Koufaris, 2015. "The impact of decision support system features on user overconfidence and risky behavior," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(6), pages 607-623, November.
    14. Kummitha, Rama Krishna Reddy, 2020. "Why distance matters: The relatedness between technology development and its appropriation in smart cities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Beth A. Bechky, 2003. "Sharing Meaning Across Occupational Communities: The Transformation of Understanding on a Production Floor," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(3), pages 312-330, June.
    16. Li Zuo & Gregory J. Fisher & Zhi Yang, 2019. "Organizational learning and technological innovation: the distinct dimensions of novelty and meaningfulness that impact firm performance," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1166-1183, November.
    17. Patricio Duran & Nadine Kammerlander & Marc van Essen & Thomas Zellweger, 2016. "Doing More with Less : Innovation Input and Output in Family Firms," Post-Print hal-02276703, HAL.
    18. Wai Fong Boh & Sandra A. Slaughter & J. Alberto Espinosa, 2007. "Learning from Experience in Software Development: A Multilevel Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(8), pages 1315-1331, August.
    19. Karim Gassemi, 2019. "Collective Strategy Formulation: An Experimental Research Assessing the Positive Impact of Group Decision Support System on Work Group," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 9(5), pages 150-157.
    20. Surabhi Sinha & Kalyan Sengupta, 2020. "Role of Leadership in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Training Practices: Case of Indian Information Technology Sector Organizations," Paradigm, , vol. 24(2), pages 208-225, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:36:y:2008:i:2:p:252-266. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/375/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.