Richness in communication quality (CQ)refers to the perception of how vivid or detailed the messages are from the other group members. Adding a greater amount of detail to group discussion threads is one way to improve the CQ in online communities.

Communication quality improvements: Richness dimension

Openness in communication quality(CQ) is the perception of how open the other team members were to receiving each other's messages. In other words, how understanding and considerate members were with one another's contributions. Creating an open communication environment allows all members to feel comfortable to contribute, therefore increasing the cohesion and CQ of the group.

Communication quality improvements: Openness dimension

Accuracy in communication quality(CQ) is the extent to which the information exchanged between one another was accurate relative to general knowledge and/or specific to the task. By making each message accurate in content, it is more likely to be received by others as reliable, therein making the person seem more trustworthy to collaborate with in exchanging ideas.

Communication quality improvements: Accuracy dimension

Appropriateness in communication quality(CQ) is the perception of how appropriate a message/contribution may be relative to the task at hand. When the messages exchanged are appropriate and on-topic to the task, the CQ is of higher quality and leads to a more productive atmosphere.

Communication quality improvements: Appropriateness dimension

Quality group discussion in communication quality(CQ) is the perception of a contribution/discussion being effective and satisfactory in developing and completing the project/task. When the discussion is of high quality, the members feel they are being productive and enjoy working with one another to complete the task. Increasing quality grooup discussion increases the quality of communication overall by elevating moods and creating an efficient atmosphere.

Communication quality improvements: Quality group discussion dimension

Communication Quality can be improved based on the five dimensions it is composed of:

1. richness
2. openness
3. accuracy
4. appropriateness
5. quality group discussion

New York University

Creating a better task cohesion allows the group to share a similar identity and fosters better collaboration amongst all group members. 
Task cohesion can be increased by improving:
- social loafing
- interdependence
- collective efficacy
- collective task value
- communication quality

Improving Task Cohesion in Online Communities

Lam, C. (2015). The role of communication and cohesion in reducing social loafing in group projects. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 78(4), 454-475. https://doi.org/10.1177/2329490615596417

The role of communication and cohesion in reducing social loafing in group projects

When the task requires an individual to rely on others to complete the task, it created a dependence on one another. This active interaction with one another also produces a cohesion amongst the ideas exchanged since they have to evaluate others' contributions before adding their own.

Increasing Interdependence in Online Communities

Collective efficacy is the shared belief that a group can perform the task at hand as a whole. When collective efficacy is high, task cohesion also increases. 

Collective Efficacy in Online Communities

Collective Task Value involves an individual's perception of the overall group's value of the task.
How to improve:
- discussing the importance of the value of the task
- discussing individually their interest in the task before beginning
- more autonomy for the students (giving feelings of ownership)

Improving Collective Task Value in Online Communities

Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to devote less time or effort when working with others compared to working alone.

When an individual is not engaging with others in the group to complete the goal/task at hand, there is is a lack of task cohesion and equal contribution/effort being devoted to the task. 

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