Why do users continually seek knowledge in online Q&A communities? An empirical investigation

IF 2.1 Q2 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

Information Discovery and Delivery Pub Date : 2022-02-16 DOI:10.1108/idd-04-2021-0042

Jiahua Jin, Tingting Zhang, Xiangbin Yan

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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Purpose Online Q&A communities have been widely highlighted as an important knowledge exchange market. Although motivations for users’ initial knowledge-seeking behavior have been widely investigated, the factors that affect online Q&A users’ continued knowledge-seeking behavior are still vague. This study aims to investigate the factors that affect users continuously seeking knowledge from online social Q&A communities. Design/methodology/approach Based on social information processing theory, social capital theory, social exchange theory and social cognitive theory, this study used a negative binomial regression model to explore what would affect people’s continued knowledge-seeking behavior. Empirical data was collected from a popular Chinese online social Q&A community. Findings The results indicate that while previous knowledge sharing behavior, peer responses for previous seeking behavior, identity-based trust have a positive impact on knowledge-seeking behaviors, social exposure has a negative impact. In addition, self-presentation negatively moderates the relationship between social exposure and knowledge-seeking behavior. Originality/value This study contributed to the theoretical basis for knowledge-seeking behavior in online Q&A communities. The research findings can be used to derive guidelines for the development and operation of online social Q&A communities.

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为什么用户不断地在在线问答社区中寻求知识?实证调查

目的在线问答社区作为一种重要的知识交流市场已得到广泛重视。虽然用户初始求知行为的动机已经得到了广泛的研究，但是影响网络问答用户持续求知行为的因素仍然是模糊的。本研究旨在探讨影响用户持续从在线社交问答社区中寻求知识的因素。设计/方法/途径基于社会信息加工理论、社会资本理论、社会交换理论和社会认知理论，采用负二项回归模型探讨影响人们持续求知行为的因素。实证数据是从中国一个流行的在线社交问答社区收集的。研究结果表明，前人知识分享行为、同伴对前人求知行为的反应、身份信任对前人求知行为有正向影响，而社会暴露对前人求知行为有负向影响。此外，自我呈现负向调节社会暴露与求知行为之间的关系。原创性/价值本研究为在线问答社区的求知行为提供了理论基础。研究结果可以为网络社交问答社区的发展和运营提供指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Information Discovery and Delivery INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

4.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： Information Discovery and Delivery covers information discovery and access for digital information researchers. This includes educators, knowledge professionals in education and cultural organisations, knowledge managers in media, health care and government, as well as librarians. The journal publishes research and practice which explores the digital information supply chain ie transport, flows, tracking, exchange and sharing, including within and between libraries. It is also interested in digital information capture, packaging and storage by ‘collectors’ of all kinds. Information is widely defined, including but not limited to: Records, Documents, Learning objects, Visual and sound files, Data and metadata and , User-generated content.