Knowledge sharing in virtual communities: A social exchange theory perspective

Li Jinyang

doi:10.3926/jiem.1389

Abstract

Purpose: The author tried to identify the knowledge sharing behaviors on the internet, using structural equation modeling methods, proposing a model based on social exchange theory in which share willingness, trust, reciprocity, altruism tended to have impact on people’s knowledge sharing behaviors in virtual communities. Design/methodology/a pproach: We presented an empirical research which integrated social exchange theory and structural equation modeling methods to analyze several important factors influencing members’ knowledge sharing behaviors in virtual communities. Findings: We analyzed the knowledge sharing behaviors in virtual communities. We found that members’ altruism can not predict knowledge sharing behaviors. We also found that members’ sharing willingness is the most important factor on virtual community knowledge sharing behaviors compared with trust, reciprocity and altruism. Originality/v alue: From the perspective of social exchange theory, we did empirical test and verified the proposed research model by using structural equation modeling methods. Our finding can help recognize people’s incentive about knowledge sharing.

Highlights

With the development of information technology and the prevalence of internet, the ways through which people communicate and obtain information are more and more diverse
A series of theories about collective action are put forwarded by Wasko and Faraj (2005) in order to identify how impetus and social investment have impact on knowledge sharing in the cyberspace
The theories of social investment and personal impetus were integrated by Chang and Chuang (2011) so as to study the influential elements about knowledge sharing on the internet

Summary

Introduction

With the development of information technology and the prevalence of internet, the ways through which people communicate and obtain information are more and more diverse. A series of theories about collective action are put forwarded by Wasko and Faraj (2005) in order to identify how impetus and social investment have impact on knowledge sharing in the cyberspace. They empirically tested a knowledge sharing model and considered people tend to share knowledge if this will help promote their social status. A social cognitive theory was introduced by Hsu, Ju, Yen and Chang (2007), including individual perception of knowledge sharing, expectations for individual improvement, and multidimensional trusts in order to identify people’s knowledge contribution in the cyberspace. The concept of participator involvement was applied the analysis of regulating effects of personal impetus on knowledge contribution

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