Empirical study of knowledge withholding in cyberspace: Integrating protection motivation theory and theory of reasoned behavior

Abstract

This study integrates protection motivation theory and theory of reasoned action to investigate knowledge withholding in cyberspace, which is a highly prevalent counterproductive knowledge behavior but has received limited attention. The research model was tested with 386 valid online survey responses among Chinese Internet users. The results indicate that both threat appraisal (perceived severity, perceived susceptibility) and coping appraisal (response efficacy, self-efficacy) are positively associated with the attitude toward knowledge withholding, and that the attitude toward knowledge withholding and subjective norms about knowledge withholding are positively related to knowledge withholding intentions. In addition, the results also show that attitude toward knowledge withholding significantly mediates the relationships of threat appraisal and coping appraisal with knowledge withholding intentions. We believe that the findings of this study not only provide a new theoretical perspective on understanding knowledge withholding behavior but also offer valuable insights for reducing knowledge withholding behavior in cyberspace. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.