This study examines the effect of colearner agent performance and social behavior on learner performance and subjective satisfaction in an interactive learning environment. In this 2 (high- or low-performing colearner) by 2 (socially supportive or competitive colearner) experiment (N=44), participants learned Morse Code alongside an agent colearner. Participants with high-scoring colearner agents performed significantly better than participants with low-scoring colearners. Participants liked and felt liked by socially supportive agents more than they did socially competitive agent participants. Implications for developing educational software are discussed.
['Wendy Ju', 'Seth Nickell', 'Katherine Eng', 'Clifford Nass']
Influence of colearner agent gehavior on learner performance and attitudes