TWO STUDIES IN SOCIAL NETWORKS AND EDUCATION : EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Abstract

Social networks play a critical role in determining educational outcomes. The rapid development of social learning technologies has fundamentally changed the way student learn, collaborate and communicate. While social interactions through these technologies are prevalent in higher education, it is still unclear about the effects of online social interactions on academic performance and real-world communication. This dissertation includes two studies. In my first study, I propose a three-stage framework to assess peer effects in a college setting by modelling the joint dynamic process of course selection, individual interactions and academic performance. In my second study, I adopt a multiplex network framework to understand the structure of and the interplay between online and offline communication networks. Through these two studies, I seek to contribute towards understanding (i) the impact of peer effects through online social interactions on academic performance, and (ii) the interplay between online and offline communication networks.