Thread-based analysis of patterns of collaborative interaction in chat

In this work we present a thread-based approach for analyzing synchronous collaborative math problem solving activities. Thread information is shown to be an important resource for analyzing collaborative activities, especially for conducting sequential analysis of interaction among participants of a small group. We propose a computational model based on thread information which allows us to identify patterns of interaction and their sequential organization in computer-supported collaborative environments. This approach enables us to understand important features of collaborative math problem solving in a chat environment and to envisage several useful implications for educational and design purposes.