Evaluation of WhatsApp for promoting social presence in a first year undergraduate Radiography Problem Based Learning (PBL) group

The paper reports the findings of an analysis into student postings on a Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) service (WhatsApp) established to develop social presence in a small group of first year undergraduate radiography students. The analysis was carried out using a validated and reported tool specifically designed to identify categories of social presence, developed using the Community of Enquiry theoretical model. The students themselves undertook the analysis which enhanced validity due to participant verification of findings. Six hundred posts (approximately 10% of the total year’s messages) were analysed at key points in the first year student journey. Conclusion: WhatsApp was able to provide students with a platform to demonstrate all the characteristics relevant for the development of social presence. In addition, its immediacy appeared to offer benefits over embedded social media platforms such as discussion board