Social Information Processing Model

Abstract

Social information processing (SIP) theory is one of the most widely employed and adapted theories of computer‐mediated communication (CMC). Before it was developed, scholars were struggling to explain the ways in which text‐based CMC might limit how people exchange information, form impressions, and develop relationships. Many CMC channels are relatively cue‐lean: meaning they possess limited capacity to transmit nonverbal and social cues. Social information processing theory describes theoretically testable mechanisms through which CMC users adapt to cue leanness in order to process relational communication in ways that are similar to face‐to‐face (FtF) interaction. More specifically, SIP theory explains that the limitations of CMC are often a function of time, and that users who possess ample time can overcome limited cue bandwidth. This entry details the development of the theoretical framework, its associated empirical tests, and various extensions of SIP theory.