Search

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying mechanism of the community climate on knowledge-sharing intention in virtual communities. Based on social cognitive theory, a theoretical model was developed and empirically tested using a web-based survey of 525 members from an online question and answer (Q&A) community in China. Results showed that knowledge-sharing self-efficacy and outcome expectation played a chain mediation role in the relationship between the community climate and knowledge-sharing intention. This study is among the first to examine whether and how community climate influences knowledge sharing. Our research findings unpack the mechanism of the community climate on knowledge-sharing intention, and provide practical insights on how to use community climate to facilitate users to share knowledge in online Q&A communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increased popularity of mobile learning, there is a growing demand on the understanding of how the scalable technology, such as mobile devices, influences individual learning behaviours as well as their learning outcome. A theoretical model was built based on the adaptive structuration theory (AST) and the knowledge spiral theory. Using this model, we examined the relationship between structural sources, individuals' adaptive structural behaviours, and their perceived learning. A Structural Equation Modeling method was employed in our empirical study. Findings indicate that users' task adaptation had a positive influence on their perceived learning, In addition, their exploitive technology adaptation influenced the ultimate perceived learning, but the impact of users' exploratory technology adaptation on learning was mediated by their task adaptation. Contrary to expectations, the effect of computer self-efficacy on exploitive and exploratory technology adaptation was negative, and exploratory technology adaptation negatively affected exploitive task adaptation. A detailed discussion of the findings and implications are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is undergoing a transition from offline to online advertising, but little is known about the causal relationship regarding credibility transfer from non-web advertising to web advertising. Meanwhile, web advertising usage behaviour is largely overlooked. The purpose of this study is to explore the formation of customers' attitude towards web advertising (ATT) which further impacts their online information acquisition behaviour, from the perspectives of advertising value and credibility transfer. This paper develops a research model drawing upon advertising value, credibility transfer, ATT and tie. Data collected from Chinese online shopping customers were used to test the model. The results indicate that perceived informativeness, perceived entertainment and credibility contribute to the formation of ATT, which further impacts web advertising usage for getting information. Meanwhile, tie positively moderates the credibility transfer from non-web advertising to web advertising. These findings and their implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web accessibility can help reduce the digital divide between persons with disabilities and the web by providing easy access to information on the Internet. Providing web accessibility can be an important element that manifests a firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees can play a vital role in this process. This paper examines how employees can impact a firm's decision to fulfil their CSR regarding web accessibility. We propose that employees’ intention to exert pressure on a firm is primarily influenced by three psychological needs, namely need for control, need for belonging, and need for meaningful existence. Additionally, perceived importance of CSR moderates the relationship between need for meaningful existence and intention. We empirically test the research model using data collected from 106 Chinese employees. The results suggest that for employees to pressure their firms to improve the accessibility of their websites, it is imperative to enhance their perceived importance of web accessibility, and their need for belonging and for a meaningful existence. We present the theoretical and managerial implications arising from our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervasive social networking sites (SNSs) access has forced people to pay continuous attention to the overwhelming volume of information which ultimately increases their usage. The extensive use of SNSs has contributed to the overuse of technology and that can lead to overload which may produce negative behavioural consequences. This study used cognitive load theory as foundation of the model to examine the effect of overloads and discontinuous intentions incorporating SNS addiction, social media self-efficacy and SNS fatigue. To test the proposed model and hypothesis, a total of 371 Chinese university students participated in the study. Findings reveal that information and communication overload exert a direct impact on SNS addiction, and the relationship between SNS addiction and discontinuous intentions amongst users is negatively significant. The moderated mediation analysis result indicates that social media self-efficacy moderates the mediating effect of SNS addiction between overloads (information and communication) and discontinuous intentions. Moreover, the relationship between SNS addiction and discontinuous intentions is partially mediated by SNS fatigue. Implications emphasise that SNS providers should effectively prevent the negative behavioural response of SNS users by providing training on the effective use of SNSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become pervasive in the contemporary world that organisations leverage crowdsourcing to solicit ideas or innovations from the public. However, challenges exist in how to design tasks in an appropriate way to stimulate crowdsourcees' investing more resources in crowdsourcing activities. Motivated thus, draw on the valence theory, we propose a model to explain the influence of task design characteristics on solvers' committed resources with the consideration of the mediating role of task difficulty-significance factors. The model was assessed by using data collected from 274 crowdsourcees on two large Chinese crowdsourcing platforms. As hypothesised, crowdsourcing type, deadline, task incentives and task volume are found to positively affect perceived task significance, whereas crowdsourcing type and deadline negatively impact perceived task difficulty, personality has an indirect impact on perceived task significance by effectively enhancing solvers' positive traits and alleviating their vulnerable attitudes. In addition, we find that perceived task significance partially mediates the effect of task design and committed resources, while perceived task difficulty mediates the associations between crowdsourcing type, deadline and committed resource. The theoretical contributions and practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising popularity of SNS games, virtual goods are expected to generate revenue for game providers. However, previous findings may be at odds with changes in this new virtual environment, while some social platforms lack understanding of what motivates users to purchase virtual goods in SNS games either. Considering the social nature of SNS games, this study adopted the self-presentation theory to explore these factors. A conceptual model was proposed and subsequently empirically tested with 302 samples collected from the questionnaire survey. The results show that the desire for online self-presentation is significantly influenced by SNS games involvement, online self-presentation norms, interactivity, and perceived usability. The results also indicate that the effect of the desire for online self-presentation on intention to purchase virtual goods is significant. In addition, the moderated role of perceived usability on the relationship between interactivity and the desire for online self-presentation is established as well. Our findings contribute to the literature on SNS games as well as self-presentation. It also lends insights into how SNS providers can tap this source of revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban–rural divide becomes an obstacle to the development of e-government in China. This research devotes to promoting the adoption of e-government in China. It investigates the attitudes of urban residents versus rural residents toward e-government use in Chongqing, one of most important municipalities of China which is fraught with a serious urban–rural divide. A research model is created to assess the differences between urban and rural residents according to previous literatures and theories. A Structural Equation Model approach is employed to examine the research model. The survey data were collected from 596 urban residents and 477 rural residents in Chongqing. The results reveal that there are differences between urban and rural groups. Many enabling factors and inhibiting factors in previous studies, such as perceived behavioural control and resistance to change, can positively influence rural residents' intentions to use but fail to exert great effects on urban residents' motivations. Thus, it is necessary for government agencies in China to take actions based on those significant enabling factors and inhibiting factors to promote e-government acceptance. In addition, it is also necessary to conduct deeper research on e-government acceptance of urban residents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamification can be an effective mechanism of engaging individual users (i.e. solvers) in task solving on competitive crowdsourcing platforms. However, past literature lacks a nuanced understanding of how gamification elements can affect solvers' crowdsourcing behaviour via intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. We conceptualised two typical gamification elements (points and immediate performance feedback). Borrowing from self-determination theory, we modelled the effects of points and immediate performance feedback on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that, in turn, affect solvers' crowdsourcing participation. Using a survey data of 295 solvers from a large competitive crowdsourcing platform in China, we found that points are positively related to intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, while immediate performance feedback only enhances intrinsic motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations positively affect solvers' crowdsourcing participation. The findings of this study enrich our understanding of the mechanisms of the two gamification elements and provide practical insights on how to enhance solvers' participation in crowdsourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous research suggests that smartphone overuse relates to users' adverse health issues such as insomnia, nomophobia, and poor eyesight, few studies have explored the mediating role of such health issues in the relationship between smartphone overuse and academic performance. Guided by the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, this study develops a model to understand the relationships among students' smartphone overuse, health issues (i.e. insomnia, nomophobia, and poor eyesight), and academic performance. Moreover, we introduce a moderating role of health information literacy in the relationship between smartphone overuse and health issues. To validate the model, we collect representative data through a large-scale field survey at a public university in China. 6,855 valid responses are retained for data analysis using a structural equation modelling technique. The main results are: (1) health issues – insomnia, nomophobia, and poor eyesight – partially mediate the relationship between smartphone overuse and students' academic performance; (2) health information literacy can moderate the relationship between smartphone overuse and the health issues including insomnia and poor eyesight, while the relationship between smartphone overuse and nomophobia is not affected. Finally, we draw related theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile phone-based user-generated-content (UGC) online community applications have gained increasing popularity among young generations. However, factors that may affect usage behaviour regarding the applications are not fully investigated. In this study, we employed the Technology Acceptance Model as the basis to explore factors that are able to predict user reposting behaviour with the applications. University students (N = 322) completed a self-reported questionnaire for measuring the studied constructs after they experienced a high-fidelity prototype of a mobile UGC online community application. Results from path analysis demonstrated that perceived usefulness and attitude towards usage were significant determinants of user reposting intention, with 23% of its variance explained. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and information credibility directly predicted attitude towards usage and accounted for 45% of its variance. Perceived ease of use exerted influence on both perceived usefulness and information credibility. The findings can enhance our understanding of factors that contribute to user reposting behaviour and provide insight into design and implementation strategies to increase the likelihood of user intention to repost information using mobile UGC online community applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presence has been regarded as an essential component for understanding individuals' behaviour in online environments. Drawing upon self-determination theory (SDT), this study examines the impact of presence in online shopping markets. The conceptual model is examined with data collected from TaoBao. The findings indicate that telepresence is positively associated with consumers' autonomy and stickiness, while social presence is positively associated with consumers' relatedness and stickiness. Furthermore, stickiness mediates both the relationship between autonomy and purchase intention, and the relationship between relatedness and purchase intention. Having introduced a new perspective of SDT, this study explains how presence significantly influences consumers' psychological need satisfaction, attitude and behaviour, and confirms the critical role of presence in online shopping markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile commerce has become the predominant form of electronic commerce in many countries. This study examines the impacts of mobility, privacy protection, and social influence on mobile payment (m-payment) continuance and the moderation effects of espoused cultural values. A research model rooted in expectation–confirmation theory was tested using 724 usable responses from smartphone m-payment users in China. The results revealed that post-usage privacy protection and social influence beliefs drove user continuous intentions direct towards m-payment, and post-usage mobility belief had an indirect impact via user satisfaction. The espoused cultural value uncertainty avoidance served as an antecedent of perceived social influence and mobility. The espoused cultural value power distance served as an antecedent of perceived privacy protection. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Virtual communities are a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0. Information seeking has been demonstrated to be a main motivator driving web use. Given the challenge brought by quality in the early stage, the healthy development of virtual communities relies on sound information seekers. Mindfulness, which is regarded as a psychological state of consciousness, is an important factor for individuals to make a sound decision. This study develops a research model by extending the updated information systems success model with the consideration of the moderating effect of mindfulness. Data collected from users of virtual communities were used to test the model. The findings suggest that mindfulness negatively moderates the effects of information quality, system quality and service quality on perceived usefulness, which further impacts information seeking in virtual communities. The findings and the implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although E-Learning 2.0 has played a significant role in training and development within the organisational environment, after an initial acceptance, its use is frequently discontinued. Prior studies offered insights into participation in E-Learning; however, there is limited research on continuance intention towards E-Learning 2.0 systems in organisational contexts. Furthermore, the most widely used research models, such as technology acceptance model (TAM), neglect the interactive social processes in E-Learning 2.0. Therefore, this study proposes a unified model integrating the TAM, the information system success model and social motivation theories to investigate continuance intentions towards E-Learning 2.0 in an organisational context. A sample of 284 participants from companies in China that have already implemented E-Learning 2.0 systems took part in this study. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the research hypotheses. The results show that the unified model provides a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive processes and behaviours related to this context: (1) perceived usefulness and attitude were critical to the continuance intention towards an E-Learning 2.0 system; (2) perceived usefulness was a significant mediator of the effects from perceived ease of use, information quality and social influence on continuance intention; (3) perceived ease of use, information quality and social influence were found to play important roles in predicting the continuance intention; (4) system quality played an important role in affecting the perceived ease of use; and (5) unexpectedly, social motivations had no significant effect on attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprise 2.0 is identified as one of the most promising technological innovations in the business domain, with immense potential for enriching communication, enabling collaboration and facilitating learning. Although organisations are increasingly implementing Enterprise 2.0 as a useful means of knowledge sharing and collaboration, no empirical research has been performed to identify individuals’ motivations to participate in Enterprise 2.0 activities. The high practical relevance and dearth of research indicate the importance of the present study. This study aims to apply the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to propose a research model that incorporates context-specific variables as enhancing constructs to predict individuals’ adoption intentions towards Enterprise 2.0 applications. We also categorise Enterprise 2.0 users into silent and social users and conduct a comparative analysis to examine whether differences exist in factors predicting users’ adoption intentions towards Enterprise 2.0 applications. To test the model, structural equation modelling is employed to analyse data collected from respondents working in seven Chinese companies conducting trial operations of an Enterprise 2.0 platform. The findings of this research provide managers with effective methods to promote individuals’ participation in Enterprise 2.0 activities. This research also provides a theoretical foundation for academics and practical implications for the development of Enterprise 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]