Theoretical Foundations of Web 2.0: State of the Art and Future Research

Purpose. The paper aims at building an overview of the web 2.0-related research by specifically assessing and advancing the understanding of the phenomenon. Design/Methodology/Approach. The paper employs an empirical literary review which analyses 90 articles published in eight peer reviewed communication and public relations journals in the period 2005-2011. Articles are codified according to the discussed topics, developed theories, applied disciplinary perspectives, conducted empirical studies. Findings. Web 2.0 appears a fragmented phenomenon investigated within multiple disciplinary perspectives. Few articles propose new theoretical model suitable for the online environment and new research paths can be identified. Research Limitations/Implications. The study suggests conceptual and empirical approaches for future research within public relations and communication field. Practical implications. This paper provides practitioners with valuable insights to better understand the reasoning behind the web 2.0- based practices and to interpret them. Originality/Value. The paper contributes to meet the need of an appropriate theorizing and a more deep conceptual comprehension of the web 2.0 phenomenon.