This paper presents a study of group cohesion as it arises in online small group different time and place collaboration. Cohesion is modeled in terms of the extent to which a group makes progress together through contentful and meaningful collaborative interactions. This paper makes the case that cohesion in a small group working collaboratively online emerges as a result of the overall level of engagement settled into by the group. As students participate in a collaborative task, they make choices in the extent and way in which they engage in a particular aspect of that task. The choices made by students in how to engage determine the scope and quality of the cohesion that emerges. Data were collected from a one-semester course where students worked on design problems in an online, different time and place, community in small groups. The collective pattern of engagement gives insights into characteristics of the cohesion that emerges within the community and within each small group.

中文翻译：

---

在线环境中的凝聚力

本文提出了一种研究小组凝聚力的方法，这种凝聚力在在线小组不同时间和地点的协作中产生。凝聚力是根据小组通过有争议的有意义的协作互动共同进步的程度来建模的。本文提出了这样一个案例，即由于团队参与的总体参与水平，在一个小组中进行在线协作的凝聚力得以显现。当学生参加协作任务时，他们会根据参与任务的特定方面的程度和方式做出选择。学生对参与方式的选择决定了所产生的凝聚力的范围和质量。数据是从一学期的课程中收集的，在该课程中，学生们以小组形式在不同时间和地点的在线社区中研究设计问题。