Impacts of role assignment and participation in asynchronous discussions in college-level online classes

• We examine impacts of role assignment in asynchronous online discussions.
• We utilized social network analysis in our investigation.
• Moderators participated in discussions more frequently and diversely.
• Role assignment and participation effort influenced interaction attractiveness.
• Moderation characteristics differed in highest- and lowest-density groups.

In this study, 57 participants from an online course participated in online learning activities facilitated by assigned moderators. Social network analysis techniques were utilized to examine the influence of moderator role assignment on social networks of online classes. The results indicated when students were assigned to the moderator position their participation quantity, diversity, and interaction attractiveness increased significantly and their non-posting participation significantly influenced the group interaction. Students' participation quantity and diversity also significantly influenced their interaction attractiveness. Qualitative findings revealed moderation characteristics of the highest density and lowest density groups.