We're all in this together: The impact of Facebook groups on social connectedness and other outcomes in higher education

Publication date: Available online 11 October 2018Source: The Internet and Higher EducationAuthor(s): Michael Thai, Nicola Sheeran, Daniel J. CummingsAbstractThere is a growing body of research exploring the potential benefits of implementing Facebook groups in the educational domain. The present study contributes to this literature by investigating the impact of having an official course Facebook group on several important outcomes. In a quasi-experiment, students in a second year university course either had access to an official course Facebook group or not, depending on the campus on which they were enrolled. Results indicated that students on the campus that implemented an official course Facebook group reported a greater sense of social connectedness, better relationships with faculty, and lower course-related stress, compared to students on the campus that did not have a Facebook group. Furthermore, having an official Facebook group indirectly enhanced course engagement and course satisfaction through social connectedness. These findings support the idea that Facebook groups can be a beneficial tool to foster positive outcomes for higher education students.
Source: The Internet and Higher Education - Category: Information Technology Source Type: research