A Multidimensional Coding Scheme for VMT

In CSCL research, collaboration through chat has primarily been studied in dyadic settings. In VMT’s larger groups it becomes harder to specify procedures for coding postings because the interactions are more complicated and ambiguous. This chapter discusses four issues that emerged during the development of a multidimensional coding procedure for smallgroup chat communication: (a) the unit of analysis and unit fragmentation, (b) the reconstruction of the response structure, (c) determining reliability without overestimation, and (d) the validity of constructs inspired by diverse theoretical-methodological stances. Threading, i.e., connections between analysis units, proved essential to handle unit fragmentation, to reconstruct the response structure and for reliability of coding. In addition, a risk for reliability overestimation is illustrated. Implications for reliability, validity and analysis methodology in CSCL are discussed.