A social exchange architecture for distributed Web communities Available to Purchase

Using the foundational lens of social exchange theory and communities of practice, proposes a three‐layer Web‐based architecture to facilitate knowledge integration in digital communities. Reviews the limitations of past collaborative filtering mechanisms and presents a prototype and the underlying mathematical model for the knowledge networking on the Web (KNOWeb) architecture. Further illustrates how real‐time active feedback and valuation mechanisms reinforce social exchange in such communities.