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The effect of commitment on knowledge sharing: An empirical study of virtual communities

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  • Luo, Chuan
  • Lan, Yao
  • (Robert) Luo, Xin
  • Li, Han

Abstract

Due to the development of social media technologies, abundant online platforms have been established to facilitate users’ knowledge exchange behaviors. With frequent user interactions, these platforms gradually evolve into virtual communities, and users subsequently form a sense of commitment. Nevertheless, previous research has ignored the effects of commitment on knowledge-sharing behaviors. This study thus endeavors to fill this research gap by exploring the effect of commitment on knowledge contributors’ sharing intentions in virtual communities in China. By integrating the commitment model and social exchange theory, we demonstrate that user commitment mediates the effect of social-exchange benefits on users’ knowledge exchange behaviors in virtual communities. Our research model is validated using 751 valid responses collected from four prevalent virtual communities through an online survey. The statistical results show that affective and normative commitment can significantly influence users’ knowledge-sharing intention. In addition, relationships, reputation, and reciprocity, as three types of social-exchange benefits, serve as crucial antecedents to user commitment. Our findings contribute to the literature on commitment and virtual communities by shedding important light on the different components of user commitment and their distinctive mediating roles in knowledge sharing.

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  • Luo, Chuan & Lan, Yao & (Robert) Luo, Xin & Li, Han, 2021. "The effect of commitment on knowledge sharing: An empirical study of virtual communities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:163:y:2021:i:c:s0040162520312646
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120438
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    3. Rodrigo, L & Pérez-Arechaederra, D & Palacios, M & Romero, J, 2022. "Organisational commitment in the digital social innovation context: does qualitative comparative analysis add information to linear regression?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
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    6. Wang, Nan & Wang, Liya & Ma, Zhenzhong & Wang, Shouyang, 2022. "From knowledge seeking to knowledge contribution: A social capital perspective on knowledge sharing behaviors in online Q&A communities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    7. Zhu, Tengteng & Zhang, Lu & Zeng, Chuhong & Liu, Xin, 2022. "Rethinking value co-creation and loyalty in virtual travel communities: How and when they develop," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    8. Tønnessen, Øystein & Dhir, Amandeep & Flåten, Bjørn-Tore, 2021. "Digital knowledge sharing and creative performance: Work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

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