Multi-dimensionality of idea framing in group work in academic settings.

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a study which investigated the group interaction patterns of overseas Malaysian students on a British undergraduate programme. It discusses the different ways ideas are framed and developed in group interaction tasks; and the linguistic manifestations (lexical and syntactic features) of these different types of idea framing, which seem to mediate the process of generating and framing ideas. This paper first briefly discusses the theoretical issues underlying the study. Then the findings and categories of idea framing which arise from the analysis of group interaction data are discussed. Finally, it draws attention to the various types of analysis which might be undertaken to give a richer picture of the way knowledge is constructed and ideas are framed in group interaction tasks.