Myths and Manifestos in CSCW Research: Reflections on Research Agendas

Introduction As is regularly noted, CSCW is an inherently interdisciplinary field, bringing together a diverse range of sociologists, psychologists, designers, engineers, computer scientists, organizational theorists, and more. Successful research in CSCW typically requires incorporating different perspectives and understanding the mutual implications of different approaches to understanding collective action. Landmark research contributions, such as Suchman’s analysis of interactive system design (ref), the Coordinator (ref), the Air Traffic Control study (ref), Grudin’s study of calendar system use (ref), etc., all exhibit this flavor; they contribute to an understanding not just of social practices or technological arrangements, but to the relationship between the two.