Making Peer Connections with Nearpeer at California University, Pennsylvania & Loyola University, New Orleans
The College Innovation Network (CIN) evaluated how student networking apps could promote peer connectedness among college students in Fall 2021.
Our analyses show that students who engaged with Nearpeer (the social networking app for students) reported significantly greater peer connectedness mid-way through the semester as compared to students who had not used the app; 91% of students made a peer connection on the app, and 41% of students reported making a “real life” friend because of the app.
Peer connections are important and beneficial aspects of the college experience. The research results shared in this report show that student networking technology centered around non-academic interests appears to be effective in helping students make genuine peer connections and new friends.
Learn more about this research by downloading the report.