Task Design and Interaction in Collaborative Writing: The Students' Story. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bremner, Stephen; Peirson-Smith, Anne; Jones, Rodney; Bhatia, Vijay
• Is Part Of: Business and professional communication quarterly. Volume 77:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: business communication instruction -- instructional design -- teamwork -- collaborative writing pedagogy; Business education -- United States -- Periodicals; Communication in management -- United States -- Periodicals; English language -- Business English -- Periodicals; 658.450715
• DOI: 10.1177/2329490613514598
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2329-4906

Abstract

This article investigates student behaviour on collaborative assignments, looking at the relationship between task type and interaction, and considers the implications for task design. Students reported on interactions in a year-long workplace-focussed group communication project, comparing these with interactions on other academy-based group assignments. Differences were seen in the amount of brainstorming, the criteria for dividing up work, the intensity of editing, and how conflict was managed. Contributing factors to these differences included the presence or absence of a creative element, the instrumental nature of the task, and the need for a collective approach inherent in the task design.