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Exploring Individual Trust Factors in Computer Mediated Group Collaboration: A Case Study Approach

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Abstract

Trust has become more and more important in the context of mixed use of longitudinal face-to-face and computer mediated group collaboration using Group Support System tools. Previous research has investigated trust factors in different dimensions. This paper takes the perspective of individual trust and aims to explore the new trust factors and also their detailed second level trust sub-factors in computer mediated collaboration over time. We have taken the interviews using the student groups during the two year-long collaboration project based case studies. We have validated the previous factors and found seven new trust factors and thirty one sub-factors which are associated with the main factors. Furthermore, based on the new factors, this paper has also designed an innovative trust traffic light model with suggested steps which could be easily used to help analyze the trust factors development over time for future longitudinal studies.

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Acknowledgments

This research thanks the ITMB project, all the participants, and feedback from GDN conference and reviewers. The authors also thank the funding provider National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.71101029) for providing funding for part of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

    Xusen Cheng

  2. Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK

    Linda Macaulay

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  1. Xusen Cheng
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Correspondence to Xusen Cheng.

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Cheng, X., Macaulay, L. Exploring Individual Trust Factors in Computer Mediated Group Collaboration: A Case Study Approach. Group Decis Negot 23, 533–560 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-013-9340-z

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