Promises of structured relationship building for higher distance education: Evaluating the effects of a virtual fast-friendship procedure

The main aim of the present research is to introduce and evaluate the effects of a virtual relationship-building program designed to foster social integration among distance education students. To achieve this purpose, the authors developed a Moodle-based adaptation of Aron et al.'s (1997) “fast-friendship procedure.” The evaluation has employed a longitudinal randomized delayed intervention group design with an additional non-random comparison group (intervention groups: N = 855, comparison group: N = 754). Significant and practically relevant program effects on interpersonal liking and perceived social integration have been confirmed through mixed-model ANOVAs, using multiple comparison groups, individual and dyadic data, and socio-demographic controls. Mediational analyses have further confirmed that program participation had a significant and positive effect on the end-of-semester exam attendance of distance students, mediated by program-induced social integration. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed below.