Media and User Features that Affect Knowledge Sharing Intention and Knowledge Sharing Behaviors on Wechat

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to shed light on the factors that influence mobile social networking applications (Wechat) users' intention and behaviors to share knowledge from the perspective of both media and psychological features. Methods/Statistical analysis: This research conducted questionnaire survey via online survey company (Wenjuanxing) and 197 samples were collected. Based on the data collected, research model and hypotheses were tested using smart pls 2.0. Internal consistency, convergent validity and discriminant validity were examined that were required in Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. Findings: The analytical results of this research show that media features-mobility and interactivity is insignificantly related with the Wechat users' intention to share knowledge. Users' psychological featuresaltruism, sense of self-worth and knowledge self-efficacy were found significantly related with users' Knowledge Sharing Intention (KSI) and Knowledge Sharing Behaviors (KSB). This research empirically examined users' psychological features which were found to be the main factors that drive individuals to participate in the knowledge sharing activities on mobile devices. These findings are particularly significant by having a deep insight into individual’s knowledge sharing activities from the perspectives of both media and users' psychological features in the mobile internet era. The results of this research are believed to contribute to the future research on people's new knowledge acquisition patterns. Application/Improvements: The results of this study will provide great benefits to companies or educational institutions with evidences of individual of their information acquisition behaviors in today's mobile internet era.