As blogs are among the types of web software I'm studying, I thought I should toss my hat in the ring. Put up or shut up, as they say.
I plan to use this space to chronicle my thesis project: a compilation of social psych theories and research findings that can (and should!) inform the design of social web software: discussion forums, wikis, mailing lists, collaboration tools, even weblogs. With any luck, I'll have the beast tamed and sold by May of 2005.
It is my considered opinion that the body of work currently accumulating around the topic of social software design has not taken advantage of a wealth of relevant, empirical research that already exists, primarily in the field of social psychology. It's a shame, because social psych has a lot to say on topics from mob mentality to social influence.
Fortunately for you, that means I'll have a lot to say on those topics, too.