Deceptive/Honest/Unreliable/Reliable? Unpacking Social Signaling Theory for Social Computing Systems Analysis and Design.

Social signaling theory (SST) is an analytical approach for interpreting interactions in social settings that are not ostensibly explicit. Social computing researchers are beginning to apply SST to study questions of identity, trust, reliability, and multi-cultural communication. Example framing questions include: Relationships: How does social signaling theory complement existing theories used for studying social computing systems? Applications: What types of questions about social computing systems cannot currently be answered from an SST stance? Interventions: How can Social Signaling Theory be leveraged to facilitate the design of next generation social computing systems? During this workshop, through a variety of creative activities and lively discussions, we will begin to unpack SST, map how it is currently being used in research, and investigate the potential for future exploration.