Computer-Supported Collaborative Work and Learning: A Meta-Analytic Examination of Key Moderators in Experimental GSS Research

Abstract

Evvident and growing research interest has been witnessed on the relationship between the use of commputer-based syystemms and effectivve commmmunication in group-related activvities such as collaborativve learning and training. The vvarious termms accorded to this research streamm include vvirtual teamms, e-collaboration, commputer-supported collaborativve work, distributed work, electronic mmeetings, etc. AA notable and well-accepted aspect in the information system field is group support systems (GSS), the focus of this article. The numerous GSS studies have reported findings which may not be altogether consistent. An overall picture is much in want which attends to the synthesizing of the findings accumulated over decades. This article presents a mmeta-analyysis studyy aimmed at gaining a general understanding of GSS effects. We invvestigate six immportant mmoderators of group outcommes, nammelyy group size, task tyype, anonymymityy, timme and proximmityy, levvel of technologyy, and the existence of facilitation. The results point to immportant conclusions about the phenommenon of interest; in particular, their immplications vvis-à-vvis commputer-supported collaborativve learning technologies and use are discussed and highlighted along each dimmension of the studied vvariables.