Ma, Meng, and Ritu Agarwal. "Through a glass darkly: Information technology design, identity verification, and knowledge contribution in online communities." Information systems research 18.1 (2007): 42-67.

This research investigates how information technology (IT) artifacts, such as those used for reputation management and digital archiving, impact communication and interaction within online communities. Through the lens of social psychology, the study proposes that IT artifacts supporting virtual co-presence, persistent labeling, self-presentation, and deep profiling can enhance users' perceived identity verification. This, in turn, is linked to greater satisfaction and increased knowledge contribution among community members. The theoretical model was tested with a survey of over 650 members across two online communities, confirming the positive relationship between IT artifacts, perceived identity verification, satisfaction, and knowledge sharing. The findings offer insights into how IT features can be designed to foster knowledge exchange in online environments.