Understanding online knowledge community user continuance: A social cognitive theory perspective
Data Technologies and Applications
ISSN: 2514-9288
Article publication date: 27 July 2018
Issue publication date: 20 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw on the social cognitive theory to identify the determinants of online knowledge community user continuance, which reflects a user’s continued use.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the 271 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modelling was employed to examine the research model.
Findings
The results indicated that the cognitive factors of outcome expectation and the environmental factors of system quality and knowledge quality significantly affect a user’s continuance intention, which, in turn, affects continuance usage.
Research limitations/implications
The results imply that service providers need to enhance community platforms and improve knowledge quality in order to retain users and facilitate their continuance.
Originality/value
Although previous research has examined online knowledge community user behaviour from multiple perspectives such as the social exchange theory and the motivational theory, it has seldom explored the relative effects of personal cognitions and environmental factors on user behaviour. This research fills the gap.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (71771069, 71371004), NSFC-Zhejiang Joint Fund for the Integration of Industrialization and Informatization (U1509220), and the Research Center of Information Technology & Economic and Social Development in Zhejiang Province.
Citation
Zhou, T. (2018), "Understanding online knowledge community user continuance: A social cognitive theory perspective", Data Technologies and Applications, Vol. 52 No. 3, pp. 445-458. https://doi.org/10.1108/DTA-10-2017-0077
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited