Validating the Persian version of the Community of Inquiry framework survey instrument in web-based learning environments

he purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure, validity and reliability of the Community of Inquiry framework survey instrument. This research is a non-experimental research that has been done by descriptive-analytic method. The population of this study was all students enrolled in the web-based courses in the academic year of 1395-1396, a sample of 271 students selected by convenience sampling from a number of universities offering Web-based courses at the master's level and responded to the Arbaugh et al (2008). Community of Inquiry framework survey instrument. The results of exploratory factor analysis by the principal components method, confirmed three cognitive, social and educational presence factors. To assess the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used and the confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine its validity. The results showed that the questionnaire had an acceptable internal consistency and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients were between 89. 8 and 5. 96. Also, for determining the factor validity, a confirmatory factor analysis was used which results showed that the questionnaire appropriately fit with data. All of the fittest's goodness indicators confirm the model. As a result, it can be said that the translated version of Community of Inquiry framework survey instrument among Iranian learners is acceptable.