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Developing an antecedent model of knowledge sharing intention in virtual communities

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Abstract

This study explored the antecedent model of knowledge sharing intention in virtual communities based on social influence theory. A field survey was performed with the participation of 176 college students who were Facebook users. The results indicated that expected benefits (i.e., cognitive benefits, social integrative benefits, personal integrative benefits, and hedonic benefits) significantly and positively influenced social influence factors (i.e., group norms, social identity, and subjective norms). In addition, social influence factors (i.e., group norms, social identity, and subjective norms) significantly and positively influenced knowledge sharing intention in virtual communities. Finally, social influence factors (i.e., group norms, social identity, and subjective norms) fully mediate the effects of expected benefits (i.e., cognitive benefits, social integrative benefits, personal integrative benefits, and hedonic benefits) on knowledge sharing intention. This study identified the antecedents of knowledge sharing intention in virtual communities, and the results could be applied to areas of organization, education, and business.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of China (Taiwan), for financially supporting this study under Contract No. 103-2410-H-036-003.

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  1. Department of Business Management, Tatung University, No. 40, Sec. 3, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhong-shan District, Taipei City, 10452, Taiwan

    Tze-Hsien Liao

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Liao, TH. Developing an antecedent model of knowledge sharing intention in virtual communities. Univ Access Inf Soc 16, 215–224 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0452-5

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