Chinese Social Network Research Articles

Daily user-online load forecasting for social network site based on the DFT resampling interpolation with periodic extension

Along with rapid development of the internet, a new type of information networks called 'online social networks' are emerging in popularity, which have been one global phenomenon. Then analysis and forecasting of user-online load movement for one social network site is increasingly important because of its significant effect on web traffic, information propagation, resource allocation, maintenance management and commercial operation. In this study, it is found that the daily online load movement roughly exhibits daily cyclical variations. Then with periodic extension for the daily user-online load movement, a forecast approach based on the called discrete Fourier transform (DFT) resampling interpolation is proposed, in which two-factor up-sampling is performed on the periodically adjusted user-online load observed sequence to predict (estimate) its future movement. Experiments and result analysis indicate potentiality of the proposed method that it yields satisfying results in forecasting daily user-online load movements at the Chinese social network websites.

Indigenization of urban mobility

The identification of urban mobility patterns is very important for predicting and controlling spatial events. In this study, we analyzed millions of geographical check-ins crawled from a leading Chinese location-based social networking service (Jiepang.com), which contains demographic information that facilitates group-specific studies. We determined the distinct mobility patterns of natives and non-natives in all five large cities that we considered. We used a mixed method to assign different algorithms to natives and non-natives, which greatly improved the accuracy of location prediction compared with the basic algorithms. We also propose so-called indigenization coefficients to quantify the extent to which an individual behaves like a native, which depends only on their check-in behavior, rather than requiring demographic information. Surprisingly, the hybrid algorithm weighted using the indigenization coefficients outperformed a mixed algorithm that used additional demographic information, suggesting the advantage of behavioral data in characterizing individual mobility compared with the demographic information. The present location prediction algorithms can find applications in urban planning, traffic forecasting, mobile recommendation, and so on.

A study of the relationship between narcissism, extraversion, drive for entertainment, and narcissistic behavior on social networking sites

As social networking sites are gaining popularity, the rise in narcissistic culture on theses sites are also documented. Literature suggests users' personality traits may be important factors leading people to engage in narcissistic behaviors. Using a national sample of Chinese adults, this study investigated the relationship between narcissism, extraversion, drive for entertainment and narcissistic behaviors on a Chinese social networking site, Wechat Moment. We also examined whether demographic variables and online time played a role in that dynamic. Results revealed that narcissism predicted exhibitionistic behaviors on Wechat Moment, ratings of one's profile picture and using an image of oneself as profile picture over and above extraversion and drive for entertainment controlling for online time and demographic variables. Contrary to our hypothesis, narcissism did not predict higher frequency of Wechat Moment posting over and above drive for entertainment and extraversion. Different sub-factors of narcissism also contributed differently to the variance of narcissistic behavior on SNS.

Disclosure Pattern of Self-Labeled People Living with HIV/AIDS on Chinese Social Networking Site: An Exploratory Study.

HIV/AIDS is an important public health issue in China. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been increasing since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. PLWHA's life quality is becoming an important issue, with lack of research in China. In this study, a group of PLWHA (n = 663) was identified using HIV/AIDS relevant usernames on a Chinese social networking site (Weibo) to study their daily living situations. We found that more than 99.10% of PLWHA were male, among whom 90.80% turned out to be homosexual. They had significantly more fans and followees, but fewer postings compared to the general population. The mean age of the PLWHA was 28.96 (SD = 5.05) years old, and southwest and northwest China had a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. In addition, PLWHA's postings were coded and we found that more than half of the postings (n = 769, 51.03%) contained strong emotions. Less than one-fifth of the postings were directly related to HIV/AIDS topics (n = 269, 17.85%), while seeking emotional support, such as looking for stable partnership, was ranked as the first priority of support seeking. In summary, we found that the majority of the self-labeled PLWHA were likely to be men who have sex with men. They used Weibo to share their daily life events and seek emotional support. Implications for promoting HIV/AIDS education and prevention through Chinese social networking sites were also discussed.

Visual and Textual Sentiment Analysis of a Microblog Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Sentiment analysis of online social media has attracted significant interest recently. Many studies have been performed, but most existing methods focus on either only textual content or only visual content. In this paper, we utilize deep learning models in a convolutional neural network (CNN) to analyze the sentiment in Chinese microblogs from both textual and visual content. We first train a CNN on top of pre-trained word vectors for textual sentiment analysis and employ a deep convolutional neural network (DNN) with generalized dropout for visual sentiment analysis. We then evaluate our sentiment prediction framework on a dataset collected from a famous Chinese social media network (Sina Weibo) that includes text and related images and demonstrate state-of-the-art results on this Chinese sentiment analysis benchmark.

Physical Exposures to Political Protests Impact Civic Engagement: Evidence from 13 Quasi-Experiments with Chinese Social Media

How does physically witnessing a political protest affect citizens’ discussion of social and political issues in authoritarian societies? Conventional methods are unable to answer this question because of their difficulty in identifying witnesses, constructing meaningful counterfactuals, and obtaining information on pre-protest political behaviors. In this paper, I examined the impact of 13 protests in Hong Kong from 2012-14 on witnesses from mainland China, using a quasi-experiment design. The design uses geolocated posts from a Chinese social networking site to construct treated groups who were physically close to one of the protests when it occurred, and control groups who already left Hong Kong before the protests occurred and therefore could not witness them. Using difference-in-differences estimators, I find that the protests had a significant causal impact on promoting Chinese witnesses’ intensity of civic engagement. The content of the increased discussions is around civic issues regarding daily lives instead of political democracy. The results are robust in a replication test based on protests in Taiwan and three placebo tests. This paper has implications for the use of social media data to study both authoritarian politics and social movements.

The impacts of unique service resources and habit on e-service loyalty in a highly competitive market

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to seek to quantify how unique service resources and consumer habit affect e-service loyalty (e-loyalty) in a highly competitive market. This study is grounded on Chinese social networking service (SNS) industry. A resource-based view is introduced as an alternative perspective to understand building consumer loyalty in e-service contexts. Design/methodology/approach – A research framework is developed by reviewing prior literature. An online survey is conducted to collect research data. Based on 221 valid responses, the research model is tested by using partial least squares path modeling technique. Findings – The features of market environments affects the loyalty of consumers to e-service providers. Consumers become mercenary in highly competitive and low differentiation e-service markets like Chinese SNS industry. The interaction of satisfaction and switching cost affects loyalty. Satisfied consumers can be either loyal or not loyal to a service provider depending on their level of switching cost, but unsatisfied consumers will have no loyalty. In addition, users are loyal to a SNS partly because it is their habit to use the service. Our study suggests that relying on consumer satisfaction to build e-loyalty may be problematic and risky. Originality/value – The study represents an attempt to introduce the resource-based view to e-loyalty research. The research highlights the importance of habit in building consumers’ e-service satisfaction and loyalty and contributes to new insights on the importance of industry environment in determining e-service satisfaction–loyalty relationship based on studying consumers in a highly competitive market.

Unknown, surprising, and economically significant: The realities of electronic word of mouth in Chinese social networking sites

The increasing significance of electronic word-of-mouth (e-WoM) has followed the rapid growth of Internet usage. Consumers seek information provided by other online users on various online platforms, including social networking sites (SNSs) which are considered ideal platforms for e-WoM. We report research with Chinese consumers on the motivation and use of e-WoM in SNSs, drivers and dynamics of e-WoM, and e-WoM influences on consumer behavior. A number of normative expectations and conclusions in extant research are disconfirmed through empirical research, including the non-significance of non-information-related, social and hedonic motives for seeking e-WoM, and the secondary role of social capital. Findings are incorporated in a novel framework to inform theory development. By providing insights about e-WoM motivations and behaviors in SNSs and by focusing on such dynamics in the Chinese market, a topic is highlighted that is economically significant but is less frequently documented in marketing.

Chinese Community and Social Network in the Marketing of Agricultural Products: A Phenomenological Study

Social network is a step or an effort to remain competitive with other manufacturers in the agricultural activities. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine the types of social networks used by the Chinese farmers in the marketing and finding the best price for their agricultural products. The idealist ontology and epistemology interpretivism were used in this study. Data was collected using the in-depth interviews and non-participation observation. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in selecting the informants in this study. The total number of informants in the study is determined based on the saturation data. The validity and reliability of the data were determined using the member checked approach. The study found that the type of social network used by the Chinese farmers in marketing of their agricultural products can be divided into eight types, namely friends, family, social environment, dialects, values, experience, aid from the state and the wholesalers. These eight types of social networks have helped the Chinese farmers to remain competitive with the leading producers of vegetables and other fruits although there is lack of support from the government agencies in terms capital and marketing their product compared to their other Bumiputera counterparts. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s3p117

The transformation of Chinese business ethics in line with its emergence as a global economic leader

Purpose – This paper aims to present the evolution of Chinese business ethics and CSR policy. China currently has business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) concerns primarily because its economy is in evolution. As the Chinese economy is in transition from the late 1970s from a command–Communist economy to a more hybrid system Beijing model (a system based on a capitalist market controlled through bureaucracy), much has to be understood if one wants to participate in its vast economic potential. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on the building of a model that depicts the evolution of business ethics in China as a base for further research. Findings – With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, opportunities are opening up to Chinese entrepreneurs and connected officials. This has led to money worship and, in some cases, thorough unethical behavior. The uncertain and ever-changing rules of the game generate opportunity for business ethics and CSR problems. This wealth creates temptation and incentives to cut corners to get rich fast. Much research has tried to explain business ethics in China through the understanding of Guanxi (Chinese social network of reciprocal business relations common in Confucian cultures), but in my view, the evolutionary aspect of it is missing to explain the present and future situation. Whereas considerable research has dealt with the growth of Chinese industries in recent years, the key relationship between changes in its economy and shifts in Chinese business ethics has been neglected. This paper presents the evolution of Chinese business ethics and CSR policy. Originality/value – The paper illustrates the evolution of Chinese business ethics and how one has to adapt if one wants to succeed in its ever evolving and maturing market. A model is presented that can assist in future research in the area.

Recruiting migrants for health research through social network sites: an online survey among chinese migrants in australia.

BackgroundTraditionally, postal surveys or face to face interviews are the main approaches for health researchers to obtain essential research data. However, with the prevalence of information technology and Internet, Web-based surveys are gaining popularity in health research.ObjectiveThis study aims to report the process and outcomes of recruiting Chinese migrants through social network sites in Australia and to examine the sample characteristics of online recruitment by comparing the sample which was recruited by an online survey to a sample of Australian Chinese migrants collected by a postal survey.MethodsDescriptive analyses were performed to describe and compare the process and outcomes of online recruitment with postal survey questionnaires. Chi square tests and t tests were performed to assess the differences between the two samples for categorical and continuous variables respectively.ResultsIn total, 473 Chinese migrants completed the online health survey from July to October 2013. Out of 426 participants recruited through the three Chinese social network sites in Australia, over 86.6% (369/426) were recruited within six weeks. Participants of the Web-based survey were younger, with a higher education level or had resided in Australia for less time compared to those recruited via a postal survey. However, there was no significant difference in gender, marital status, and professional occupation.ConclusionsThe recruitment of Chinese migrants through social network sites in our online survey was feasible. Compared to a postal survey of Chinese migrants, the online survey attracted different group of Chinese migrants who may have diverse health needs and concerns. Our findings provided insightful information for researchers who are considering employing a Web-based approach to recruit migrants and ethnic minority participants.

Impacts of informal networks on innovation performance: evidence in Shanghai

Purpose– This paper aims to present an empirical study on how informal networks affect innovation performance of firms in Shanghai. This study is a preliminary attempt to understand the effect of informal networks on innovation performance. Shanghai is selected as the region for data acquisition due to a prominent economic role in China. It is specifically to answer the research question regarding the impact of Chinese informal social network on innovation performance (in Shanghai).Design/methodology/approach– This paper attempts to explore the quantitative effect of informal networks on innovation performance in regard to group behavioural characteristics among executives in China.Findings– A total of 1,000 executives were invited, and there were 315 valid samples returned. Significant correlations are noted in key network variables against innovation performance. The results and findings generally support the hypotheses that “Education”, “Business Referral” and “Experience” are three core constructs exerting substantial influence in innovation performance. However, it is interesting to note that the connectivity and size of informal networks do not matter. Informal networks show no significant influence on innovation performance.Practical implications– This indicates stereotypes in Shanghai social business networks prioritizing on highly educated acquaintances, referral activities and working experiences.Originality/value– This study explores uncovered territory in organization innovation regarding the infiltration of informal networks, particularly in Chinese communities. Though the research context is Shanghai, the effect of informal networks on innovation performance can be extrapolated to other Chinese societies, such as Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Leveraging social networking sites for disease surveillance and public sensing: the case of the 2013 avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China.

We conducted in-depth analysis on the use of a popular Chinese social networking and microblogging site, Sina Weibo, to monitor an avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China and to assess the value of social networking sites in the surveillance of disease outbreaks that occur overseas. Two data sets were employed for our analysis: a line listing of confirmed cases obtained from conventional public health information channels and case information from Weibo posts. Our findings showed that the level of activity on Weibo corresponded with the number of new cases reported. In addition, the reporting of new cases on Weibo was significantly faster than those of conventional reporting sites and non-local news media. A qualitative review of the functions of Weibo also revealed that Weibo enabled timely monitoring of other outbreak-relevant information, provided access to additional crowd-sourced epidemiological information and was leveraged by the local government as an interactive platform for risk communication and monitoring public sentiment on the policy response. Our analysis demonstrated the potential for social networking sites to be used by public health agencies to enhance traditional communicable disease surveillance systems for the global surveillance of overseas public health threats. Social networking sites also can be used by governments for calibration of response policies and measures and for risk communication.

Shanghai adolescents’ brand interactions on the Chinese Social Networking Site Qzone: A Uses and Gratifications Approach

This study analyses the interaction of Chinese adolescents with commercial brands on the popular Chinese social networking site, Qzone, based on a Uses and Gratifications Theory. Structural equation analysis was employed to verify the proposed framework within a sample of 220 adolescent Qzone users resident in Shanghai. From the three gratifications proposed by the theory, only entertainment had a significant positive influence on the likelihood of interacting with brands on the social networking site. Gratifications derived from socializing and information-seeking did not enhance brand interaction of Chinese adolescents in this social network. The results support the view of some researchers who suggest that brand communication strategies directed at the adolescent segment in SNSs should not concentrate on providing information about product and brand characteristics, but on creating contents that help to satisfy the entertainment needs of young people.

Uyghurs on Chinese Social Networking Sites: The Creation and Destruction of Ethnic Youth Culture

The Chinese social networking website Fenbei.com was started in 2003 by a young Chinese software engineer. By 2006 it provided an important online community for tens of thousands of Uyghurs, who developed an online culture and communication genres through which they creatively engaged in a virtual world with thousands of others who shared their interests. By 2010 the site was closed, stranding these Uyghurs and millions of other Chinese citizens without the online site that had become their virtual community and connected them to other users around China and even abroad. This article attempts to uncover a small part of what Fenbei meant for young Uyghur Internet enthusiasts and fills some of the gaps in research on popular Internet use in China.

Self-Disclosure Patterns among Chinese Users in SNS and Face-to-Face Communication

This exploratory study focused on Chinese social network sites (SNS) users to determine whether their online self-disclosure differed from offline and whether culture had an impact on the patterns of their self-disclosure. Sixteen active users of Chinese online social networks were interviewed about their self-disclosing experiences. Results of a qualitative analysis suggest that culture was likely to impact the behavior of study participants by modifying the patterns of self-disclosure. Participants tended to disclose themselves indirectly on SNS, strived to make positive impressions, and revealed few intimate issues. In face-to-face communication, the relationships between disclosers and target persons as well as the target persons' status and background influenced the contents of self-disclosure.

Social media for informal science learning in China: A case study

This article reports a case study on a popular informal science learning community via social media in China, named GuoKr (meaning “nutshell” in English). Data were collected through a variety of Chinese social media and social networking sites, web-based community portals, and discussion boards. Content analyses and data mining were conducted to investigate how GuoKr successfully attracted and engaged public in informal learning on scientific topics in particular. The study found three key characteristics that contributed to the success of such learning communities: (a) utilizing a variety of social media to empower participants with just-in-time, accidental learning opportunities; (b) daily tweets related to emerging or ongoing social events or hot topics to provide brief but intriguing knowledge “bites”, which often leads to extended readings and related resources; and (c) the integration of social media and traditional face-to-face local events to engage the public in science-related learning and knowledge sharing. Practical and research implications are discussed with suggestions for future research as related to ubiquitous learning communities for informal science learning.

The evolution of Chinese business ethics

Purpose– This article aims to present a historical overview of the evolution of business ethics in China and highlights the ways in which its ethical structure lags behind its rapid economic expansion. Understanding Guanxi, the Chinese social network of reciprocal business relations common in Confucian cultures, has long been recognized as one of the major success factors when doing business in China (Hwanget al., 2009). Recognizing the significant impact of Guanxi and its influence on everyday dealings in China is, thus, crucial for Western firms. Whereas considerable research has dealt with the growth of Chinese industries in recent years, the key relationship between changes in its economy and shifts in Chinese business ethics has been neglected although it impacts the ways Westerners, in particular, both clinch deals and judge Chinese firms. The implications of this disparity for global business are discussed.Design/methodology/approach– The discussion draws on the academic literature and the researchers’ experience in how business and business ethics are conducted between Western and Chinese firms. This paper presents a content analysis of theoretical articles and compares them to conceptual and empirical approaches, with an emphasis on a pragmatic approach to fostering a better understanding of the evolution of Chinese business ethics and its implications on business practices.Findings– Maps the evolution of business ethics in China and need to adapt to an ever changing business environment.Originality/value– This study offers a new insight to the evolution of Chinese business ethics and highlights its importance in business interactions. It illustrates the co-evolution of business ethics in parallel with the advancement of the Chinese economy. This paper is the first paper that addresses the issue of the evolution and formation of Chinese business ethics and links it to economic progress and opening up to the West.

(Is Volunteer Service Helpful to Job Application?)

Chinese Abstract: 本文尝试借助志愿服务功能量表来考察大学生参与志愿服务的动机，以及检验参与志愿服务是否对未来就业有所帮助。我们通过对来自上海世博会和来自人大经济论坛的（非）志愿者进行网上调查，发现了与以往文献一致的结论，即大学生参与志愿服务的目的在于完善自身的履历和提升自身的事业。然而，不论从参与志愿服务的广度还是强度进行衡量，均没能发现参与志愿服务能带来未来工资的提升，在控制了一些其他因素后甚至发现，参与志愿服务会对未来的就业产生负面影响。相比包括志愿服务在内的众多影响因素而言，大学生初次就业的收入很大程度上是由家庭收入所决定。English Abstract: This study attempts to examine the motives to the volunteering among college students by Volunteer Function Inventory analyses, and whether the volunteering is a good proxy for success in future employment. Micro-level data, collected by the online survey from the volunteers in World Exposition Shanghai China 2010 and the (non-) volunteers in RenDa Economics Forum, which is one of the main Chinese Social Networking Services websites, do find a consistent result as literature that the college students participate in volunteering to achieve outcomes that help them build their resumes and advance their careers. However, there is no statistically significant wage premium for the volunteering measured in extensive or intensive way, even a negative influence of volunteering on future employment exists when we control some other factors. In particular, family income largely determines the college student’s success in their first full-time income, compared with other factors including the volunteering as well.

Innovations in surveillance of zoonotic disease

Over the past fifteen years, Internet technology has significantly changed the landscape of public health surveillance and epidemic intelligence gathering. Disease and outbreak data is disseminated not only through formal online announcements by government agencies, but also through informal channels such as social networking sites, blogs, chat rooms, Web searches, local news media and crowdsourcing platforms. These data streams have been credited with decreasing the time between an outbreak and formal recognition of an outbreak, allowing for an expedited response to the public health threat. Collectively, these online sources create an image of global public health that is fundamentally different from the one produced by traditional public health surveillance infrastructure. Importantly these new tools now represent an emerging platform for zoonotic disease surveillance. This capacity has been illustrated most recently in China, where a hospital employee uploaded an image of an H7N9 patient's medical record to Sina Weibo -- a popular Chinese social network similar to Twitter. The post was promptly deleted, but appears to have accelerated government acknowledgement of four new cases. The emergence of H7N9 also represents an opportunity to promote the One Health narrative. Engagement of the Twitter community through the use of the #OneHealth hashtag during the most intense period of the outbreak would have been a highly visible way to raise awareness and potentially provide real-time surveillance information. Dr. Brownstein will discuss the current capabilities and future directions in the use of the non-traditional data sources for the purposes of public health surveillance and rapid detection of emerging zoonotic infectious diseases.