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Understanding Sustained Knowledge Contribution from a Motivation Crowding Perspective: A Case Study in a Chinese Q&A Community

Author

Listed:
  • Jiangjiang Guo

    (Zhejiang Institute of Strategic Development, Zhejiang Institute of Administration, Hangzhou 311121, China)

  • Ting Ji

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Wenqian Zhang

    (College of Business, Jiangxi Environmental Engineering Vocational College, Ganzhou 341000, China)

  • Lingfeng Dong

    (Alibaba Business College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China)

Abstract

A Q&A community typically employs various types of external incentives to motivate knowledge contribution from their community members. This study aims to examine the effects of different external incentives, which are conceptualized as different types of motivational factors, on community participants’ sustained knowledge contribution. Drawing on motivation crowding theory, the present study proposes that different motivators interact and jointly influence knowledge contribution behavior. The panel data were collected from a Chinese Q&A community by using the Python Scrapy crawler, and the Poisson regression model with fixed effects was used to validate the integrative model. The results revealed that generalized reciprocity and social learning undermined the effect of online attractiveness on sustained knowledge contribution, whereas peer feedback strengthens this effect. The findings contribute to the extant research on sustained contribution behavior and provide practical insights into sustaining virtual communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiangjiang Guo & Ting Ji & Wenqian Zhang & Lingfeng Dong, 2023. "Understanding Sustained Knowledge Contribution from a Motivation Crowding Perspective: A Case Study in a Chinese Q&A Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2262-:d:1046963
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    1. Li Qu & Cuiyi Liu & Jielin Yin, 2023. "Effects of Person–Environment Fit on Users’ Willingness to Contribute Knowledge in Virtual Brand Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.

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