With the latest advances in conversational agents like Siri and Alexa, and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and PaLM, Question Answering (QA) systems have become more important. Users submit millions of queries per day and it is up to the system to provide reliable, to-the-point answers. In this dissertation, we explore various aspects to…

This study explored the role of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered conversational agents in human-computer interaction, particularly in the post-coronavirus (COVID-19) era, where digital technologies are central to healthcare, customer service, and education sectors. The research investigated the disruption of context continuity when users…

Using a quantitative, non-experimental design, this study analyzed the relationships between the degree of virtuality (i.e., for virtual, hybrid, and colocated employees), tools and techniques of leader communication, and employee perceptions of leadership effectiveness among full-time, currently employed faculty at an American university's campus…

This dissertation proposes a strategy, or set of decision-making principles, for the education of adults. It explores two related questions: What is the purpose of andragogy and why does this work matter? This philosophical inquiry is situated within a broader context of the automation of knowledge work. As advances in information and…

This research study examined the impact and use of social media for higher education administrators. Social media has changed how, when and who we communicate with across the globe. It has given educators the ability to communicate across geography, cultures, and languages creating an interconnected community. Higher education institutions (HEI)…

Teaching is a stressful job, that often presents with limited time and high job demands. However, the vast majority of the interventions tailored to help mitigate this stress and increase wellbeing are very time consuming and not tailored to meet the specific needs of teachers. To address this gap, this paper utilizes a randomized study design and…

Many information technology professionals are isolated within their own companies or work with a limited number of experts in their specific domains (Jenkins et al., 2020). This phenomenon, known as professional isolation, occurs when professionals have limited access to collaborative opportunities in the workplace (Kutoane et al., 2023).…

Machine learning (ML) techniques have been successfully applied to a wide array of applications. This dissertation aims to take application data handling into account when developing ML-based solutions for real-world problems through a holistic framework. To demonstrate the generality of our framework, we consider two real-world applications: spam…

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how undergraduate students' everyday texting experiences related to their social connectedness. This research was conducted through a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The quantitative phase involved a survey distributed to a sample of undergraduate students,…

This qualitative research study explored levels of social presence in Second Life (virtual world) associated with phases of knowledge construction. The study explored images and data collected from users at two discussion-based activities. The findings revealed the three levels of social presence, according to the Interactional Process Model of…

This dissertation investigates the role of multimedia applications in enhancing student engagement in higher education, with a particular focus on the dynamics of asynchronous discussion forums and lurking behaviors. Leveraging multimedia applications facilitates dynamic, inquiry-based discussions that promote deeper cognitive engagement and…

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of school leaders in Bisha about digital communication in the Saudi education system. The purpose of the current study was also to identify the attitudes of school leaders towards digital communication in terms of factors affecting the acceptance and use of digital communication in the…

Women experience an academic career differently than their male counterparts. Women enter academic careers at similar rates as men, but there are fewer women at higher ranks (associate and professor). Women also experience an academic career differently than men as identified in the variance in their time spent on the three pillars of an academic…

The purpose of this quantitative post measure only experimental study was to determine if, or to what extent, the use of emojis by a chatbot pedagogical agent in a threaded conversation is effective in eliciting social presence, human-like, and engaging perceptions by adult learners living in North America. Social presence theory provided the…

Exploring the relationship between undergraduate students and student services practitioners is nuanced. By using Twitter as a platform, tool, and community, this dissertation explored this relationship. Previous research has indicated that social media and higher education have been explored broadly, however, relationships between two groups of…