research-article

How to see values in social computing: methods for studying values dimensions

Authors:

Jes A. Koepfler,

Kenneth R. FleischmannAuthors Info & Claims

CSCW '14: Proceedings of the 17th ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work & social computing

Pages 426 - 435

https://doi.org/10.1145/2531602.2531625

Published: 15 February 2014 Publication History

Abstract

Human values play an important role in shaping the design and use of information technologies. Research on values in social computing is challenged by disagreement about indicators and objects of study as researchers distribute their focus across contexts of technology design, adoption, and use. This paper draws upon a framework that clarifies how to see values in social computing research by describing values dimensions, comprised of sources and attributes of values in sociotechnical systems. This paper uses the framework to compare how diverse research methods employed in social computing surface values and make them visible to researchers. The framework provides a tool to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each method for observing values dimensions. By detailing how and where researchers might observe interactions between values and technology design and use, we hope to enable researchers to systematically identify and investigate values in social computing.

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How to see values in social computing: methods for studying values dimensions
1. Social and professional topics

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cover image ACM Conferences

CSCW '14: Proceedings of the 17th ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work & social computing

February 2014

1600 pages

ISBN:9781450325400

DOI:10.1145/2531602

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Susan Fussell
Cornell University
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Microsoft Research
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Penn State University

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Published: 15 February 2014

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