Dialogical self theory (DST) I-positions as a CSCL analytical framework

Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description

DST holds that, as the article states, "the self is populated by other inner selves that collectively derive from the world and have their own voice, motives, opinions, and knowledge that become present in what are known as I-positions via dialogue in response to the social situation". The article operationalizes four positions — I–it (objectified technological other), I–me (personal knowledge), I–you (encountered other), I–we (collective identity) — grounded at utterance level to visualize knowledge and identity construction in CSCL.

Accounts

• Dialogical self theory (DST) I-positions as a CSCL analytical framework: DST holds that, as the article states, "the self is populated by other inner selves that collectively derive from the world and have their own voice, motives, opinions, and knowledge that become present in what are known as I-positions via dialogue in response to the social situation". The article operationalizes four positions — I–it (objectified technological other), I–me (personal knowledge), I–you (encountered other), I–we (collective identity) — grounded at utterance level to visualize knowledge and identity construction in CSCL. (Aaron J. Peltoniemi et al. (2025))

Claims

• Group A's two most common I-positions were I–it and I–me, while group B's were I–me and I–we, indicating different reliance on interpersonal versus intrapersonal voices [+M]
• Group B showed a shift toward intrapersonal voices (I–you/I–we) during its later empirical evaluation, while group A remained interpersonal (I–it/I–me) even when investigating, with un-negotiated inputs [+M]
• In group B, usage of I–we gradually increased and peaked in the final stage during critical evaluation, suggesting intrapersonal collective voice drives critical evaluation of evidence [+M]

Related Research Methods

• Dialogical voice-synergy model of collaboration
• Lonchamp's three-level integration of dialog, knowledge, and action analysis for dual-interaction CSCL environments
• Bakhtinian dialogic framework of four interconnected themes — voices, expanding the dialogue, inter-animation, and relations

Key Sources

• Aaron J. Peltoniemi, Joni Lämsä, Sami Lehesvuori, Raija Hämäläinen. (2025). Understanding the role of I-positions facilitating knowledge construction in a computer-supported collaborative learning environment. Intern. J. Comput.-Support. Collab. Learn. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-025-09447-6

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	research-method
id	dialogical-self-theory-dst-i-positions-as-a-cscl-analytical-framework
title	Dialogical self theory (DST) I-positions as a CSCL analytical framework
description	DST holds that, as the article states, "the self is populated by other inner selves that collectively derive from the world and have their own voice, motives, opinions, and knowledge that become present in what are known as I-positions via dialogue in response to the social situation".
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-18
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content

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