Using a Graphical Interface to Address New Post Bias in Online Discussion Forums

In this study, we investigated whether students using a graphical discussion forum exhibited different new-post reading behaviors than they did using a traditional text-based linear forum. Detailed examination of clickstream patterns in seven case studies showed several differences in reading strategies between the two forums. Most notably, in the graphical forum students read new posts in connected with other related (new or existing) posts, while in the text-based forum new-post reading was disconnected and scattered.