Developing a community of academic writers: Using social media to support academic accountability, motivation, and productivity

Authors

Chyllis Scott, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Nicola L. Ritter, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
Rhonda M. Fowler, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
A. Dean Franks, The University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-19-2019

Publication Title

The Journal of Literacy and Technology

Volume

20

Issue

2

First page number:

61

Last page number:

96

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated the use of Facebook as an online social network site as a support tool for graduate students’ and faculty’s writing accountability, motivation, and productivity. The purpose of the study was to explore writing practices while using a Facebook group as a physical and virtual place to provide support and accountability. Data came from the Facebook group’s postings and responses from group members to an online questionnaire. Through a sociocultural lens, the research team explored the social environment of the community, and the results suggest that the Facebook group offered participants a platform to support one another, while providing peer accountability and building a community for their academic writing. Overall, the qualitative data analysis showed evidence that group membership allowed for building a community, including face-to-face contact, with fellow academic writers.

Keywords

Academic Writing; Writing Communities; Writing Groups; Online Social Networks; Facebook; Writing Accountability; Writing Productivity

Disciplines

Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Media

Language

English

Repository Citation

Scott, C., Ritter, N. L., Fowler, R. M., Franks, A. (2019). Developing a community of academic writers: Using social media to support academic accountability, motivation, and productivity. The Journal of Literacy and Technology, 20(2), 61-96.