Designing and Evaluating a Digital Platform for Interfaith Cultural Dialogue

Thesis Abstract

In increasingly diverse societies, fostering interfaith understanding and cultural dialogue remains a critical challenge, often impeded by geographical, social, and linguistic barriers. Digital platforms present promising opportunities for facilitating interfaith engagement; however, there is limited empirical evidence on effective design, implementation, and evaluation strategies tailored to promote constructive interfaith interactions. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a user-centered digital platform specifically intended to enhance interfaith cultural dialogue and understanding. The specific objectives are to identify the key features that foster meaningful interfaith communication, assess user engagement and satisfaction, evaluate the impact of the platform on interfaith attitudes, and provide actionable recommendations for platform refinement and scalability. A mixed-methods research design guided this investigation, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to comprehensively assess the platform’s effectiveness. The study population comprised 300 active users representing diverse faith backgrounds (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and indigenous spiritualities), recruited through purposive sampling from a digital engagement network over a three-month period. Data collection instruments included semi-structured interviews, online surveys with Likert-scale items, and platform usage analytics. The survey instrument was validated through expert review and pilot testing, achieving a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 for internal consistency. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential techniques such as multiple regression analysis to examine relationships between platform features and user engagement, and ANOVA tests to evaluate differences in interfaith attitudes pre- and post-interaction. Qualitative data from interviews were subjected to thematic analysis to identify emergent themes related to user experiences, perceived barriers, and facilitators of dialogue. Key expected findings include identification of specific platform features—such as moderated discussion forums, intercultural content sharing, and real-time dialogue tools—that significantly enhance user participation and satisfaction. The study anticipates that increased engagement correlates positively with improvements in interfaith attitudes, measured through standardized attitude scales administered before and after platform interaction. The thematic analysis is expected to reveal critical factors influencing user trust, perceived neutrality, and cultural sensitivity, which in turn inform best practices for platform design. Overall, the research aims to demonstrate that well-conceived digital platforms can substantially promote intercultural understanding and reduce prejudicial attitudes among diverse faith groups. This study's contribution to knowledge lies in developing a comprehensive model linking platform features to user engagement and attitude change within interfaith dialogue contexts. It advances theoretical understanding by integrating the Uses and Gratifications Theory and Contact Hypothesis within a digital interaction framework, illustrating how technological affordances can be optimized to foster meaningful intergroup contact. The findings will furnish practical guidelines for developers, religious organizations, and policymakers seeking scalable solutions for interfaith engagement leveraging digital media. The study concludes that intentionally designed digital platforms hold considerable potential to complement traditional interfaith dialogue initiatives, especially amidst increasing digitalization of social interactions. It recommends that future platform development prioritize moderated, inclusive, and culturally sensitive environments, incorporate gamification elements to sustain engagement, and facilitate multilingual content to serve diverse user bases. Further research is suggested to explore longitudinal impacts on community cohesion and religious tolerance, as well as to assess the applicability of the platform model across different cultural contexts. Overall, this research underscores the transformative capacity of digital media in fostering intercultural harmony and provides a robust evidence base for advancing interfaith dialogue through innovative technological solutions.