A framework for eclectic analysis of collaborative interaction

The interactional structure of learning practices is a central focus of study for CSCL, although challenges remain in developing and pursuing a systematic research agenda in the field. Different analytic approaches produce complementary insights, but comparison is hampered by incompatible representations of the object of study. Sequential interaction analysis is promising but must be scaled to distributed and asynchronously mediated settings. Building on recent analytic work within our laboratory, we propose a framework for analysis that is founded on the concepts of media coordinations and uptake, and utilizes an abstract transcript representation, the dependency graph, that is suitable for use by multiple analytical traditions and supports examination of sequential structure at larger scales.