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Article of Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2007

Putting the pieces together: Online argumentation vee diagrams enhance thinking during discussions

Authors: E. Michael Nussbaum, Denise L. Winsor, Yvette M. Aqui, Anne M. Poliquin

Abstract: We examine the effect of online Argumentation Vee Diagrams (AVDs) on the quality of students’ argumentation during asynchronous, online discussions. With AVDs, students develop arguments on both sides of a controversial issue and then develop an integrated, overall final conclusion. In this study, students used AVDs individually before composing discussion notes, and then—at the end of the discussion—jointly created a group AVD using Wiki technology. Compared to a control group, the experimental intervention was found to significantly enhance the integration of arguments and counterarguments (specifically, compromises) and fostered opinion change. For AVDs to be effective, however, it was found to be necessary to include specific scaffolds on how to evaluate argument strength and/or to provide practice and feedback in using the AVDs.

Keywords: Argument, Argumentation, Computer-mediated communication, Computer-supported collaborative learning, Cooperative learning, Critical thinking, Discussion groups, Group discussion, Internet, Web-based instruction

Citation: Nussbaum, E. M., Winsor, D. L., Aqui, Y. M. & Poliquin, A. M. (2007) Putting the pieces together: Online argumentation vee diagrams enhance thinking during discussions. ijcscl 2 (4)

DOI: 10.1007/s11412-007-9025-1

Preprint: nussbaum_winsor_aqui_poliquin_2_4.pdf

About this article at link.springer.com [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11412-007-9025-1] including a link to the official electronic version.