Comparison of face to face and synchronous computer mediated communication

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13271
• Research Institution: Toyo University
• Principal Investigator: 越智 健太郎 東洋大学, 情報連携学部, 講師 (00801531)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: CMI / ISLA / Distant Learning / ICT / 英語教育

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The current research investigates the difference in the pattern of instruction between face-to-face (F2F) and computer-mediated interaction (CMI). The transcribed data seemed to match the pilot test result conducted the year prior, which showed a better fluency score during the CMI than F2F. The literature suggests that this difference in fluency is a result of less anxiety. However, the transcribed data indicates that the conversation during CMI is more a monologue than an interaction, resulting in higher fluency. The data will be analyzed to see if this difference is statistically and educationally significant.

Current Status of Research Progress

4: Progress in research has been delayed.

Reason

The plan was to finish the transcription of the audio files and its analysis in 2020 and recruit additional participants to increase the amount of data collected by the end of summer. However, the situation did not allow participants to be gathered, and the problem has not improved at the end of the 2020 academic year.
Furthermore, the analysis of the data collected was not finished due to increased workload at work related to COVID-19.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Due to the researcher changing institution, the allocation of time for work and research has changed from the previous years. The analysis will take longer to complete. The plan is to finish analyzing the transcribed data for fluency, accuracy, and complexity by the end of summer. The finding will be presented in the winter and submit a paper to a journal by next spring.

Causes of Carryover

The majority of the budget was set aside for travel expenses for overseas conferences. However, the researcher did not take part in a conference because the analysis was not finished.
Overseas travel will most likely not normalize by the end of the 2021 academic year. Thus, the incurring funds will be used to participate in domestic and international online conferences.