With increased access to social networking tools, the development of Web 2.0, and the emergence of
virtual worlds, social computing crosses cultural boundaries to join people in the digital landscape.
As the world moves closer and closer to the integration of technology into traditional social behaviors,
there is a greater need for innovative research and development into the various aspects of social
computing. Information Science Reference is pleased to offer a three-volume reference source on this
rapidly growing discipline, in order to empower students, researchers, academicians, and practitioners
with a wide-ranging understanding of the most critical areas within this field of study. This publication
uncovers the growing and expanding phenomenon of human behavior, social constructs, and communication
in online environments and provides the most comprehensive, in-depth, and recent coverage of all
issues related to the development of cutting-edge social computing technologies. This reference work
presents the latest research on social change, evolving networks, media, and interaction with technology
to offer audiences a comprehensive view of the impact of social computing on the way cultures think,
act, and exchange information.
This collection entitled, “Social Computing: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications”
is organized in eight (8) distinct sections, providing the most wide-ranging coverage of topics such
as: 1) Fundamental Concepts and Theories; 2) Development and Design Methodologies; 3) Tools and
Technologies; 4) Utilization and Application; 5) Organizational and Social Implications; 6) Managerial
Impact; 7) Critical Issues; and 8) Emerging Trends. The following provides a summary of what is
covered in each section of this multi-volume reference collection:
Section 1, Fundamental Concepts and Theories, serves as a foundation for this extensive reference
tool by addressing crucial theories essential to the understanding of social computing. Chapters such
as, “Computer-Mediated Communication Learning Environments: The Social Dimension” by Stefania
Manca, as well as “Online Communities and Social Networking” by Abhijit Roy, provide foundational
overviews of how individuals interact with social computing tools and the impact these tools have on
shaping and influencing behavior. “Mobile Social Networks: A New Locus of Innovation” by Nina D.
Ziv and “Mobile Social Networks and Services” by Lee Humphreys offer investigations into the recent
emergence of mobile social networks, reviewing current trends and technologies and offering suggestions
for future research. As this section continues, authors explore the many uses of social software and its
implications in contributions such as “Social Software (and Web 2.0)” by Jürgen Dorn, “Self-Organization
in Social Software for Learning” by Jon Dron, and “Living, Working, Teaching and Learning by Social
Software” by Helen Keegan and Bernard Lisewski. These and several other foundational chapters provide
a wealth of expert research on the elemental concepts and ideas which surround investigations of
social computing technologies.