Digital Interfaith Dialogue Platform: Design, Deployment, and Assessment in Urban Mosques and Churches

Thesis Abstract

The study addresses the persistent disconnect between diverse religious communities in urban centers and the limited, often friction-prone avenues for constructive interfaith dialogue. It investigates how a digitally mediated platform can be designed, deployed, and evaluated to facilitate sustained, respectful conversations between Muslim and Christian congregants in urban mosques and churches, with attention to inclusivity, accessibility, and impact on attitudes and relations. The aim is to develop a scalable digital interfaith dialogue platform and assess its usability, engagement, and transformative potential within real-world religious infrastructures. Specific objectives are to (1) design a user-centered platform incorporating interfaith dialogue principles grounded in contact theory and dialogic pedagogy; (2) implement the platform across three urban neighborhoods with Muslim and Christian congregations, pilot-testing with 250 participants (125 Muslims, 125 Christians) over a 12-week period; (3) evaluate usability (SUS), engagement metrics (time on platform, number of active sessions, cross-group interactions), and attitudinal change (pre/post measures of prejudice and perceived threat using validated scales); (4) examine organizational feasibility, including integration with existing religious practices, security, and governance structures; and (5) generate evidence-based guidelines for practitioners and policymakers on scaling digital interfaith initiatives. Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-methods design anchored in pragmatic philosophy. The population comprises adult congregants and leaders from six urban houses of worship (three mosques and three churches) in a metropolitan setting. A stratified random sample of 250 participants (balanced by faith identity, age, and gender) will be recruited, with 30 religious leaders participating in governance and design feedback. Data collection instruments include a) a digital usability survey with the System Usability Scale (SUS) and task-based metrics; b) the Intergroup Contact Scale to measure changes in bias and anxiety; c) a platform analytics dashboard capturing engagement indicators; d) semi-structured interviews and focus groups with participants and faith leaders; and e) an observational protocol to document interaction quality during moderated sessions. Validity and reliability will be ensured through pilot testing, triangulation of survey data with qualitative findings, and intercoder reliability checks for interview transcripts (Cohen’s kappa > 0.70). Data analysis will integrate quantitative and qualitative strands. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (paired-sample t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA) will examine changes in attitudinal measures over time, while regression analyses will identify predictors of sustained engagement and attitudinal shifts, controlling for demographic variables. Platform usage data will be analyzed with time-series methods to detect patterns of cross-group dialogue. Qualitative data will undergo thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke's approach, to illuminate perceived enablers and barriers, and to develop a conceptual model of digital interfaith dialogue processes. A theoretical framing will combine Gordon Allport’s contact hypothesis with dialogic pedagogy and participatory design theory to interpret mechanisms of attitude change, user empowerment, and co-creation of dialogue norms. Expected findings include (a) high usability scores (mean SUS ? 75) and robust engagement with cross-faith dialogue threads; (b) statistically significant reductions in explicit and implicit biases post-intervention (p < 0.05), moderated by baseline attitudes and platform engagement; (c) positive shifts in perceived legitimacy and willingness to engage in future interfaith activities among both congregants and leaders; and (d) practical insights on governance, moderation, and safeguarding that enable replication in similar urban contexts. The study is expected to contribute to knowledge by integrating design science with empirical social science to operationalize interfaith dialogue as a scalable digital practice embedded in religious infrastructures. It will advance theories of online intergroup contact by testing their applicability in faith-based settings and contribute a concrete, evidence-based blueprint for practitioners, religious organizations, and policymakers seeking to foster peaceable coexistence in multicultural cities. Conclusions will emphasize the imperative of co-design, culturally sensitive moderation, and alignment with ritual and community rhythms, while recommendations will address platform refinement, sector-specific governance, and policy pathways for funding and institutional support for digital interfaith initiatives.