Why users keep answering questions in online question answering communities: A theoretical and empirical investigation

Xiao-Ling Jin, Zhongyun Zhou, Matthew K.O. Lee and Christy M.K. Cheung

International Journal of Information Management, 2013, vol. 33, issue 1, 93-104

Abstract: This study theorized and validated a model of knowledge sharing continuance in a special type of online community, the online question answering (Q&A) community, in which knowledge exchange is reflected mainly by asking and answering specific questions. We created a model that integrated knowledge sharing factors and knowledge self-efficacy into the expectation confirmation theory. The hypotheses derived from this model were empirically validated using an online survey conducted among users of a famous online Q&A community in China, “Yahoo! Answers China”. The results suggested that users’ intention to continue sharing knowledge (i.e., answering questions) was directly influenced by users’ ex-post feelings as consisting of two dimensions: satisfaction, and knowledge self-efficacy. Based on the obtained results, we also found that knowledge self-efficacy and confirmation mediated the relationship between benefits and satisfaction.

Keywords: Online question answering communities; Continuance intention to answer questions; Benefits of answering questions; Satisfaction; Confirmation; Knowledge self-efficacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ininma:v:33:y:2013:i:1:p:93-104

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2012.07.007

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