Influence of Undergraduate Students' Self-Efficacy on Knowledge Sharing in Learning Virtual Community: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Since the explosion and popularity of learning virtual communities, Internet has increased as a new and important channel for undergraduate students to acquire necessary knowledge and efficient learning methods. Based on the empirical literature and the nature of virtual community, this study proposed a series of research hypotheses and a theoretical model. Studentspsila self-efficacy (computer self-efficacy and Internet self-efficacy), outcome expectations (personal outcome expectation and community-related outcome expectation) and their relationship to knowledge sharing were introduced. The research was conducted with undergraduate students through questionnaire and analysis methods to test all the proposed research hypotheses. And research model was evaluated with structural equation modeling. Results of this empirical study indicated that computer self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy and personal outcome expectation positively affect undergraduate studentspsila knowledge sharing in learning virtual communities. However, community-related outcome expectation has no significant effect on knowledge sharing. Finally, conclusion and implications of these findings were also discussed.