How fundamental and supplemental interactions affect users� knowledge sharing in virtual communities? A social cognitive perspective

• Autores: Junjie Zhou, Meiyun Zuo, Yan Yu, Wen Chai
• Localización: Internet research: Electronic networking applications and policy, ISSN 1066-2243, Vol. 24, Nº 5, 2014, págs. 1-2
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Purpose - This study aims to investigate the effects of the environment of a virtual community (users� interactions inside and outside of a community which are defined as the fundamental and supplemental interaction, respectively) on its users� knowledge sharing and the underlying cognitive mechanism.

    Design/methodology/approach - A survey was conducted among the users who had experience of participating in a domain knowledge specific online community. A total of 479 valid observations were collected. Structural equation modelling was used to test the research model and hypotheses.

    Findings - The empirical results show that the fundamental interaction not only directly affects users� knowledge acquisition and contribution, but also indirectly affects users� knowledge acquisition and contribution partially through the users� self-efficacy and outcome expectation. While the supplemental interaction negatively affects users� knowledge acquisition, it positively affects the users� knowledge contribution and this effect is also partially mediated by the users� self-efficacy and outcome expectation. The mediators of self-efficacy and outcome expectation play distinct role on users� knowledge acquisition and contribution in virtual communities.

    Originality/value - This research conceptualizes the users� interaction inside and outside of a particular virtual community as fundamental interaction and supplemental interaction, respectively, and reveals the mechanism how they affect users� knowledge acquisition and contribution. The results shed light on the literature of knowledge sharing in virtual communities and extend social cognitive theory�s application into a complex environment with blended interactions in a virtual world. The research also provides insights for virtual community designers, administrators and users.

    Purpose - This study aims to investigate the effects of the environment of a virtual community (users� interactions inside and outside of a community which are defined as the fundamental and supplemental interaction, respectively) on its users� knowledge sharing and the underlying cognitive mechanism.

    Design/methodology/approach - A survey was conducted among the users who had experience of participating in a domain knowledge specific online community. A total of 479 valid observations were collected. Structural equation modelling was used to test the research model and hypotheses.

    Findings - The empirical results show that the fundamental interaction not only directly affects users� knowledge acquisition and contribution, but also indirectly affects users� knowledge acquisition and contribution partially through the users� self-efficacy and outcome expectation. While the supplemental interaction negatively affects users� knowledge acquisition, it positively affects the users� knowledge contribution and this effect is also partially mediated by the users� self-efficacy and outcome expectation. The mediators of self-efficacy and outcome expectation play distinct role on users� knowledge acquisition and contribution in virtual communities.

    Originality/value - This research conceptualizes the users� interaction inside and outside of a particular virtual community as fundamental interaction and supplemental interaction, respectively, and reveals the mechanism how they affect users� knowledge acquisition and contribution. The results shed light on the literature of knowledge sharing in virtual communities and extend social cognitive theory�s application into a complex environment with blended interactions in a virtual world. The research also provides insights for virtual community designers, administrators and users.