APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021 , Vol . 7
appropriate way to monitor social behaviour was to observe the CoP in action . An observation tool was then developed to ensure that any observations that were carried out were focused and consistent .
Community indicators framework
As with our previous research ( Whitaker and Scott , 2019 ), we used an adapted version of the community indicators framework ( Galley et al , 2012 ) to guide observations of the CoP . Galley and colleagues ( 2012 ) developed the community indicators framework to help them monitor and assess social behaviour online , focusing on four areas of community experiences :
1 . Participation – the ways in which individuals engage in activity
2 . Cohesion – the ties between individuals and the community as a whole
3 . Identity – how individuals perceive the community and their place within it
4 . Creative capability – the ability of the community to create shared artefacts , knowledge and understanding
In our adapted version ( Figure 1 ), we focused on capturing :
1 . Engagement – who joins in the conversations and flashpoints of interest
2 . Types of interactions – what members are sharing ( ideas , resources , experiences )
3 . Support – whether conversations are enquiring and supportive , willingness to listen and help 4 . Relationships – what relationships are developing
The aim was to use this tool to capture examples from the discussions at each CoP . The observation notes were then analysed using the Value Creation Framework ( Wenger et al , 2011 ) to enable us to demonstrate the impact of the CoP on the coaches and Coach Developer . In addition , the Coach Developer and critical friends would meet to reflect on the progress of the CoP and ideas for how the Coach Developer could support the coaches . The Coach Developer also recorded regular observations to monitor the value of the CoP , from topics of conversation in one-to-one meetings and conversations with the coaches to discussion and sharing in the WhatsApp group .
Value Creation Framework The Value Creation Framework ( Wenger et al , 2011 )
Frequency : How many attend ?
Immediate value Who ( how many ) joins in conversations ?
Examples of flashpoints of interest and engagement
Are people motivated to return ?
Types of interactions ( record examples ) Informational ( eg , sharing resources , links )
Practical ( ie , sharing practice / experience , producing shared artefacts eg , definitions , proposals )
Do members share ideas , experiences , issues or challenges ( eg , personal issues / experiences )?
Support Are conversations enquiring / supportive ?
Is there a willingness to listen , help and learn from others ? ( ie , an interest in others ’ views ?)
Relationships What relationships are developing ?
Is there a sense of community ? ( What does this look like ?)
Figure 1 : Adapted community indicators framework for observing the CoP ( Whitaker and Scott , 2019 )
54